Reined in
Seahorses will now be protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (cites). They are the first commercially valuable genus to be accorded such a status.
Countries must now ensure that commercial trade of seahorses is not detrimental to wild populations. "At least 77 countries are involved in the seahorse trade, so regulations are needed at the international level to ensure their protection,' said Amanda Vincent, of Project Seahorse, a global conservation organisation based in Vancouver. In April, a cites technical committee recommended a minimum size as one way of determining whether or not a particular trade is damaging to the species. Most seahorses start breeding at 10 centimetres, but grow to be longer. "We are trying to give seahorses a chance to reproduce before they are caught,' said Vincent.
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