It's also significantly changing fisheries management at the community regional and national level. International efforts to conserve the sea horse are a classic example of the type of collaborations we'll need in the future if we're to protect the planet's biodiversity. There are 32 species of sea horse world wide and Australia has a third of them. But sea horse populations are declining markedly. The traditional Chinese medicine trade uses around 20million animals each year and yet habitat destruction and fisheries by-catch pose an even bigger threat.
Sea horses are extraordinary in many, many ways.
Then he gives birth and she's there with another load of eggs. They are also pretty unusual in remaining very faithful to one spot for prolong periods. The male only moving one square metre throughout a reproductive season. Sea horse are clearly threatened by a number of different forces. They're residents of sea grasses, mangroves, coral reefs and estuaries.