2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus spinosissimus
(Singapore, 2006; F. K. Lye, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011). The Fisheries Act prohibits the
use of explosives, poison or trawl nets to trap fish (Singapore, 1970).
The CITES Scientific Authority of Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
confirmed that no CITES permits for locally sourced Hippocampus spp. had been issued, that
harvest of Hippocampus spp. was not taking place for commercial trade and therefore nondetriment
findings were not being made.
The CITES Scientific Authority of Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
noted that Hippocampus spp. were being successfully bred in captivity in Singapore.
SRI LANKA
Distribution in range State: The species’ occurrence in Sri Lanka was confirmed by Lourie
et al. (1999a), where it was found in Puttalam lagoon, between Chilaw and Kalpitiya (west
coast) and along the southern and eastern coast of Sri Lanka (N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011). The species was thought to possibly occur along the northwestern and
northern coastal region, based on the suitability of the habitats (N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011).
Population trends and status: H. spinosissimus was considered not to be very abundant in
Sri Lanka and although relatively common in Puttalam lagoon (14 per cent of all
Hippocampus spp. recorded, n total =239), it was thought to be rare in southern and eastern
coastal waters (N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
In eelgrass (Zostera spp.) habitats, densities of between six and eight Hippocampus specimens
per square metre were reported in 1989 (Pathirana, in litt., 1989, cited in Vincent, 1996).
Perera (in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011) observed H. spinosissimus densities of few than
0.002 specimen/m 2 in shallow seagrass habitats in Puttalam lagoon. The average height of
H. spinosissimus found was 6.68 cm, which was smaller than the average size published, with
females dominating the sample (around 60 per cent) (N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC,
2011).
The species was included in the Sri Lanka Red List under its global threat status, Vulnerable
(IUCN Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, 2007).
Threats: Although no fisheries were reported to directly target Hippocampus spp.,
H. spinosissimus was found in by-catch, whereby even the low numbers caught were thought
to possibly have a significant impact, due to the low population densities observed
(N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Trade: According to data in the CITES Trade Database, no trade from Sri Lanka was
reported 2004-2010. Annual reports have not been received from Sri Lanka for 2008 or 2010.
Hippocampus spp. was reported to have been collected and exported for the live aquarium
trade until 2004, with specimens sourced from by-catch in Puttalam lagoon; specimens
identified as H. histrix in trade were thought to possibly represent H. spinosissimus
(N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Local trade levels in H. spinosissimus were considered to be insignificant and small numbers
of Hippocampus spp. were reported to be used locally for traditional medicine (N. Perera,
in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, Perera, 2011). The species had been observed in illegal trade,
originating from India (N. Perera, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Management: The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act prohibits the use of poison,
explosives or stupefying substances to take fish (Sri Lanka, 1996). Although
Hippocampus spp. are not legally protected (N. Perera, pers. comm. to S. Foster, 2011), CITES
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