An assessment of West African seahorses in fisheries catch and trade |
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| Authors: | A M Cisneros‐Montemayor K West I S Boiro A C J Vincent |
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| Institution: | 1. Fisheries Economics Research Unit & Project Seahorse, Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada;2. Project Seahorse, Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;3. Independent Researcher, Fulladu West District, Central River Division, The Gambia |
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| Abstract: | This study provides the first assessment of a heavily traded West African seahorse species, Hippocampus algiricus, and the first information on short‐snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus biology in Africa. A total of 219 seahorses were sampled from fisher catch in Senegal and The Gambia, with estimated height at reproductive activity for H. algiricus (161 mm) larger than mean ± s.d . catch height (150 ± 31 mm). Catch composition, height at reproductive activity and potential biases in fishery retention are discussed with regard to the current Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) guidelines. |
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| Keywords: | CITES Hippocampus algiricus life history morphometry |
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