Welcome to Arizona Diver Magazine!

Seahorses: Mysterious and at Risk

As a Scuba Diver, finding a Seahorse is only second to finding treasure. These special creatures can light up a dive site. It’s a rare and beautiful find. Seahorses exemplify the mystery and magic of the ocean. These bony fishes have evolved unique characteristics setting them apart from almost any other animal. Their flute-like mouth, regal horse-shaped head, and monkey-like tail seem from a child’s vivid imagination.

Male and female seahorses perform an elaborate courtship and mating dance that takes place over many days. It is believed that the male fertilizes the eggs as the female is placing them into his pouch where he then carries them until they hatch – usually several weeks later. Only 5% of juvenile seahorses make it to adulthood. So every threat to their habitats or populations puts them further at risk. There are 45 known species of seahorses, and all are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Threatened Animals.

Seahorses are threatened in a number of ways. They live in coastal areas among sea grass, sponges, and corals — habitats that are vital for their survival where they hide from predators, find mates, and raise their young. Often these habitats are also home to shrimp. Shrimp trawling is one of the biggest threats to seahorses, destroying important seahorse habitats and killing them as bycatch in their nets, or by dislodging them and sweeping them out to sea.

What can you do to help the Seahorses?

1. Shrimp is the most popular seafood item in the U.S. However there are some serious concerns with the way most shrimp are caught or farmed. By eating less shrimp and choosing options that are more sustainable, you can put your consumer dollars to work for conservation.


2. If you must have shrimp, look for Best Choices whenever possible. U.S. wild pink shrimp from Oregon and wild spot prawns from British Columbia have less bycatch than tropical warm-water shrimp fisheries.


3. To protect seahorses we must protect their habitats. You can learn more about how Marine Protected Areas – like national parks on land – can preserve seahorse habitats and prohibit collecting. We can do our part, too, by refusing to buy seahorse souvenirs.

Let’s keep the Seahorse safe. Spread the word to other Scuba divers and non-Scuba divers alike.