The Philippines is home to many wonderful marine creatures, including 10 species of seahorse. We want to ensure that seahorse populations flourish - in the Philippines and around the world. We are supporting the Philippines to meet its international trade obligations* so that its seahorse exports will not damage wild populations.
Learn more about these quirky, magical creatures and what you can do to help them!
*Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To learn more about CITES for seahorses visit our toolkit here
(Note that this is a living document and will be updated occasionally)
Learn more about seahorses in the Philippines
Seahorses drying in Masbate, Philippines. Photo by M. Arias / ZSL-Philippines
Simplified identification guide for Southeast Asian Seahorses
Identification guide for large seahorses in Southeast Asia
Map of global seahorse distribution
Maps of seahorse distribution in the Philippines
Key scientific papers about seahorses in the Philippines
iSeahorse citizen science factsheet
Important note: Please do not handle seahorses, and other wildlife, unless under the supervision of trained professionals.
Key scientific papers about seahorses in Philippines
Life history and ecology
Marcus, J.E., Samoilys, M.A., Meeuwig, J.J., Vollongco, Z.A.D. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2007. Benthic status of near-shore fishing grounds in the central Philippines and associated seahorse densities. Marine Pollution Bulletin 54:1483-1494.
Apale, C.M. and S. Foster. 2004. The life history and ecology of seahorses in the Philippines. Project Seahorse and ZSL-Philippines. 56 pp.
Lourie, S.A., Green, M., and A.C.J. Vincent. 2005. Dispersal, habitat differences, and comparative phylogeography of Southeast Asian seahorses. (Syngnathidae: Hippocampus). Molecular Ecology 14:1073-1094.
Perante, N.C., Pajaro, M.G., Meeuwig, J.J. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2002. Biology of a seahorse species, Hippocampus comes in the central Philippines. Journal of Fish Biology 60:821-837.
Perante, N.C. and M.G. Pajaro. 1998. Demographics of the seahorse Hippocampus comes in the central Philippines. p.439-448. In: Morton, B. (eds.). The Marine Biology of the South China Sea. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Fisheries and trade
Foster, S.J., Stanton, L.M., Nellas, A.C., Arias, M.M. and Vincent, A.C.J. (2019). The catch and trade of seahorses in the Philippines post-CITES. Fisheries Centre Research Reports 27(2): 45pp.
Foster, S.J. and C.M. Apale. 2016. Exploitation, trade, conservation and management of seahorses in the Philippines. Project Seahorse and ZSL-Philippines. 40pp.
Pajaro, M.G. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2015. The catch and Export of the seahorse trade in the Philippines, pre-CITES. The University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre Working Paper Series 2015-102.
Yasue, M., Nellas, A., Panes, H. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2015. Monitoring landed seahorse catch in a changing policy environment. Endangered Species Research 27:95-111.
O’Donnell, K. P., Molloy, P.P., and A.C.J. Vincent. 2012. Comparing fisher interviews, logbooks, and catch landings estimates of extraction rates in a small-scale fishery. Coastal Management 40:594–611.
Meeuwig, J., Samoilys, M., Erediano, J. and H. Koldewey. 2007. Fishers’ perceptions of the seahorse fishery in the central Philippines: interactive approaches and an evaluation of results. IN: Haggan, N., Neis, B. & I.G. Baird (Eds.). Fishers' knowledge in fisheries science and management.Fishers’ knowledge in fisheries science and management. UNESCO, France. 388pp.
Vincent, A.C.J., Meeuwig, J.J., Pajaro, M.G. and N.C. Perante. 2007. Characterizing a small-scale, data-poor, artisanal fishery: Seahorses in the central Philippines. Fisheries Research 86:207-215.
Grey, M., Blais, A. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2005. Magnitude and trends of marine fish curio imports to the USA. Oryx 39(4):413-420.
Management and conservation
Foster, S.J. and C.M. Apale. 2016. Exploitation, trade, conservation and management of seahorses in the Philippines. Project Seahorse and ZSL-Philippines. 40pp.
Foster, S.J. and C.M. Apale. 2016. Report on the consultation forum in support of the Philippines eventual implementation of CITES for seahorses and other aquatic species. March 1-3, 2016. St. Mark Hotel, Queens Road, Redemptorist Plaza, Camputhaw, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu.
Vincent, A.C.J., Foster, S. J. & H.J. Koldewey. 2011 Conservation and management of seahorses and other Syngnathidae. Journal of Fish Biology 78(6):1681-1724
O’Donnell, K.P., Pajaro, M.G. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2010. How does the accuracy of fisher knowledge affect seahorse conservation status? Animal Conservation 13:526-533.
Martin-Smith, K.M., Samoilys, M.A., Meeuwig, J.J. and A.C.J. Vincent. 2004. Collaborative development of management options for an artisanal fishery for seahorses in the central Philippines. Ocean & Coastal Management 47:165-193.
Project Team
This Project was carried out by Project Seahorse, acting as the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group, in partnership with the Zoological Society of London-Philippines.
Partner
Banner image: Thorny seahorse (H. histrix). Photo by Gino Symus / Guylian Seahorses of the World
[Updated Dec 2019]