2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus spinosissimus
Management: The Export and Import of Goods Act, 1979 was reported to prohibit the
export of live Hippocampus spp. caught in Thai waters (Y. Getpech, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC,
2011) since 1988, but illegal exports were thought to have continued (Perry et al., 2010).
Further information on the Notifications under the Thai Fishery Law and other management
measures, as provided by the Thai Management Authority (Y. Getpech, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011), can be found in the management section for Thailand in the review of
H. kelloggi.
One facility was reported to be breeding H. kuda in captivity in 1998 (Koldewey and Martin-
Smith, 2010).
VIET NAM
Distribution in range State: The CITES Management Authority of Viet Nam (T. M. Vuong,
in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011) confirmed that the species’ distribution ranged from Quang
Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang to Kien Giang province. The species was confirmed from Binh
Thuan province [south east] (Truong Si Ky, pers. comm., cited in Lourie et al., 1999b); the
inferred distribution of the species was reported to include Quang Ninh province [north],
the cities of Hai Phong [north] and Da Nang [central] and from Khanh Hoa province [south
central] to Kien Giang province [south western coast] (Lourie et al., 1999b).
Population trends and status: The status of Hippocampus populations in Viet Nam was
considered to be poorly known (Giles et al., 2006). In the late 1990s, H. spinosissimus was
considered to be particularly common and widespread in Viet Nam (Lourie et al., 1999b).
The CITES MA of Viet Nam (T. M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011) reported that the
species was widely abundant, although the population was declining.
The species was reported to be one of the two most commonly trawled Hippocampus species
(Giles et al., 2006), with numbers caught considered significant (Meeuwig et al., 2006),
although this may be because the species’ preferred habitat is subject to more intense
trawling (Meeuwig et al., 2006). Observed by-catch in landings of the Cua Be fishing fleet
(Central Coast) between 1996 and 2000, consisted of 34 per cent H. spinosissimus; this area
was reported to be a major source for Hippocampus specimens (Meeuwig et al., 2006).
H. spinosissimus comprised 56 per cent of the catch in Binhthuan province (Truong Si Ky,
pers. comm., cited in Lourie et al., 1999b).
Landings of Hippocampus spp. in Viet Nam showed geographic variations, with fewer
caught in the north of Viet Nam than in the south, although it was unclear whether this was
due to variations in abundance or fishing method used (Giles et al., 2006).
As Hippocampus spp. in Viet Nam were reported to be mainly obtained through by-catch,
declines in numbers were thought to reflect general fish declines (Vincent, 1996). Surveyed
fishers and buyers were reported to have noted declines in Hippocampus spp. catches (Giles
et al., 2006). However, while a large decrease in the proportion of H. spinosissimus in by-catch
had been observed between 1998 and 2000, changes in CPUE (catch per unit effort) were not
considered to be unidirectional over the years (1996 to 2000) and no significant changes in
the size of H. spinosissimus were found (Meeuwig et al., 2006). Meeuwig et al. (2006) noted
that the expansion of the Vietnamese trawl fleet may explain reports of significant declines
in Hippocampus spp. catch.
H. spinosissimus was not included in the 2007 Viet Nam Red Data Book (Institute for Science
and Technology of Vietnam, 2007; T. M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011); however
Giles et al. (2006) noted that in the 1992 edition the classification of H. histrix as Vulnerable
may in fact represent this species. The species was not included in the list of endangered
species published by the Ministry of Agriculture in Decision Number 82/2008/QD-BNN
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