2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus spinosissimus
MYANMAR
Distribution in range State: The species reported to occur in the Andaman Sea in southern
Myanmar, in the waters bordering Thailand (Lourie et al., 2005) and in Thandwe,
Kyaukphyu, Launglone, Thayetchaung, Myeik and Kawthaung in the Bay of Bengal
(A. M. Maung, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Population trends and status: The population of H. spinosissimus was considered to be small
and discontinuous, based on how rarely the species was found as by-catch (A. M. Maung, in
litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Threats: The species was reported not to be targeted directly by fisheries (A. M. Maung, in
litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Trade: According to data in the CITES Trade Database, no trade from Myanmar was
reported 2004-2010. Annual reports have not yet been received from Myanmar for 2008 or
2009.
Although the species was considered less desirable than other Hippocampus spp., its use was
considered to be increasing, due to higher demand for traditional medicine (A. M. Maung, in
litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011). The CITES Management Authority of Myanmar did not find
any internal trade but noted that a survey of illegal trade is required (A. M. Maung, in litt. to
UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Management: Legal protection of the species and regulation of harvest were reported to be
absent (A. M. Maung, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
PHILIPPINES
Distribution in range State: The species was reported to occur in the Danajon Bank, off the
island of Bohol (Martin-Smith et al., 2004; Lourie et al., 2005), Dumaran (Palawan province),
Cavite (Luzon Island), Cawangan [presumably Cawayan] (Masbate Island) and Cebu
province (Bantayan Island, Panitugan Island) (Lourie et al., 2005).
Population trends and status: The proportion of Hippocampus spp. catch accounted for by
H. spinosissimus was considered to be relatively small in the central Philippines (pers. obs.
Project Seahorse, 2003b). Declines of 50-95 per cent of Hippocampus spp. were reported by
fishers in the Philippines between 1980 and 1997 (Pajaro, unpublished data, cited in Project
Seahorse, 2003a) and targeted catches of H. spinosissimus showed declines of more than
80 per cent within two months (Panes and Giles, 2004, cited in Morgan and Panes, 2008).
A previously undocumented population of H. spinosissimus declined by more than 90 per
cent between its discovery in May and surveys in October, due to exploitation by
compressor divers (Martin-Smith et al., 2004).
Threats: Hippocampus spp. was considered to be vulnerable due to trade for traditional
medicine, curios and aquaria (Vincent, 1996), with annual Hippocampus spp. by-catch in the
Philippines estimated at two to six million specimens (Pajaro, unpubl. data, cited in
Vincent et al., 2011). Habitat destruction was considered a threat to Hippocampus spp.
(Vincent, 1996)
H. spinosissimus was reported to be threatened by destructive fishing methods, including
through the use of dynamite and cyanide (Project Seahorse, 2003b). In the Philippines,
H. spinosissimus was reported to be collected using SSBA (surface-supply breathing
apparatus), enabling the collection of specimens at greater depths (Martin-Smith et al., 2004)
and catches in 2003 were considered significant (S. Morgan & D. McCorry pers. comm., cited
in Martin-Smith et al., 2004).
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