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An assessment of West African seahorses in fisheries catch and trade
Author(s) -
CisnerosMontemayor A. M.,
West K.,
Boiro I. S.,
Vincent A. C. J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.12818
Subject(s) - seahorse , biology , cites , fishery , endangered species , ecology , zoology , habitat
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.