696 / 2024-09-19 09:02:20

Conservation Needs of Marine ETP Species – Case Study of Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) and Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena spp.)

Seahorse,Finless Porpoise,Conservation,Bycatch

Session 72 - Sea turtle conservation: management, academic and outreach perspectives

The past few decades have witnessed an increasing awareness of the protection of marine ecosystems and the conservation of Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) aquatic species in China. Nonetheless, collaborative conservation efforts are needed to mitigate the negative effects brought by human activities. Since established in 2017, Qingdao Marine Conservation Society (QMCS) has been focused on the conservation of ETP species and their habitats. Based on data collected from published literatures, field surveys, and stakeholder interviews, QMCS has found fisheries bycatch and habitat loss being the major threats to marine ETP species. Species with relatively lower mobility, such as Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.), are more susceptible to active fishing gear (for example bottom trawl) bycatch, which can also pose threats to their habitats; species with higher mobility, such as Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena spp.), are more likely to be bycaught by passive fishing gears (with exceptions such as paired pelagic trawl). Due to the biological differences between the two species groups, the optimal conservation measures could be different accordingly. For instance, establishing a legally managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) that prohibits fishing activities could effectively protect the residential Seahorse population, while it is not suitable for Finless Porpoises which could constantly swim in and out the geographical boundaries. As migratory species, conservation measures for Finless Porpoise (and likewise Sea Turtles) can share experiences such as the application of excluder devices. Besides, the protection of Seahorse’s habitats (i.e. seagrass bed) in subtropical and tropical area could also benefit some Sea Turtle species that are dependent on seagrass beds or other similar habitats. In addition, methods (e.g. social media campaign, education, policy recommendation) to raise public awareness and influence polices & legislations are transferable among all marine ETP species group. Apart from fisheries bycatch, human activities such as coastal reclamation, in-shore and off-shore construction, sand mining, and plastic pollution could have negative impacts on marine ETP species as well. More conservation efforts and better management measures underpinned by collaboration of all key stakeholders are urgently needed to save marine ETP species.