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A global review of seahorse aquaculture
Citation
Koldewey, HJ and Martin-Smith, KM, A global review of seahorse aquaculture, Aquaculture: An International Journal Devoted to Fundamental Aquatic Food Resources, 302, (3-4) pp. 131-152. ISSN 0044-8486 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2009.11.010
Abstract
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are flagship species for many issues in marine conservation including
overexploitation, incidental bycatch and habitat loss. Aquaculture has been proposed as one solution to
address unsustainable trade for traditional medicine, aquarium fishes and curios. Here we review historical
and current information on global seahorse aquaculture including characteristics of aquaculture operations,
species in culture, contribution to international trade and technical issues associated with raising seahorses
in captivity. We found that prior to the 1990s, seahorse aquaculture was plagued by problems with disease
and feeding. In the late 1990s and early 2000s there was considerable expansion in the number and size of
aquaculture operations and the number of species in culture. This was reflected in an increasing contribution
of captive-bred seahorses to the aquarium trade but not in the larger traditional medicine market. Currently,
the majority of seahorse aquaculture involves small-scale operations in developed countries, employing
relatively few personnel and selling live animals for the home aquarium market. Although, there are still
considerable technical problems with diseases and with breeding and raising some species, others are
performing successfully in aquaculture. There are currently at least 13 species in commercial culture or
under research for their culture potential. However, economic viability remains a concern to many current
aquaculture operations including price competition with wild-caught animals. Large-scale aquaculture to
supply the traditional medicine market or as a livelihood venture has not yet been demonstrated to be
commercially viable, although it is being actively researched.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | aquaculture, aquarium, CITES, hippocampus, international trade, traditional medicine |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Ecological Physiology |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Martin-Smith, KM (Dr Keith Martin-Smith) |
| ID Code: | 63283 |
| Year Published: | 2010 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 97 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2010-04-27 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 6 View Download Statistics |
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