Will banning seahorse trade save the species?

Thanks to UBC fisheries prof. Amanda Vincent, 160 countries around the world will start controlling the trade in seahorses to ensure their continued survival in the wild, beginning in mid-2004, as part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

In a full-page feature on seahorse trade, Vincent says a total ban on seahorse trade will only force fishermen to turn to other marine species to make a living. "Many people (including fishermen) live on seahorse trade," says Vincent. "For some, this is their only means of income."

Vincent adds that educating the public and continued dialogue with the Traditional Chinese Medicine industry are all integral parts of achieving sustainability in seahorse trade.