CHARACTERIZATION OF SEAHORSE TRADE Hippocampus spp. IN THE STATE OF CEARÁ – BRAZIL

Caracterização do comércio de cavalos-marinhos Hippocampus spp. no estado do Ceará – Brasil

Abstract

Seahorses have been part of humanfolklore since ancient times. These distinctive creatures exhibit unique morphological, behavioral, and reproductive traits, making them highly valued by aquarists globally and utilized in traditional Chinese medicine as well as Brazilian folk medicine, resulting in an annual trade involving millions of individuals. All seahorse species are classified within the family Syngnathidae and the genus Hippocampus. Their populations face significant threats from extensive commercial exploitation, compounded by their biological characteristics such as monogamy, low fecundity, and sedentary behavior, along with habitat degradation in reefs and mangroves. This study aims to detail the trade of dried and live seahorses in Ceará, Brazil. Fieldwork involved visits to eighteen municipalities, where interviews were conducted with 40 traders of dried seahorses and 13 collectors of live seahorses using structured questionnaires. The supply chain for dried seahorses, from catchers to final consumers, comprises three to four tiers, with initial prices ranging from R$0.50 to R$12.00 and final prices from R$1.00 to R$16.00. The trade of dried seahorses was observed in twelve municipalities, with 14 traders identified at the primary level of the commercialization chain and 35 at higher levels. These seahorses are procured for treating asthma, used in candomblé rituals, and sold as souvenirs and for their purported medicinal properties. The collection of live seahorses for the aquarium trade occurs in seven municipalities, all located in mangrove areas. The commercialization process starts with collectors, who sell to buyers exporting to other Brazilian states or abroad, or occasionally within the state. Collectors typically supply exclusively to specific buyers who provide the necessary materials for seahorse storage. The price of live seahorses varies based on color, with black, yellow, and red seahorses increasing in value respectively. Collector prices range from R$1.00 to R$5.00, while resale prices range from R$15.00 to R$18.00 in the domestic market and U$12.00 to U$18.00 internationally. Given the biological vulnerabilities of seahorses, including monogamy and low reproductive rates, stringent regulation of their collection and trade is imperative to prevent severe impacts on natural populations. This research provides the first data on the trade of live and dried seahorses in the State of Ceará, aiming to inform the development of a management plan for these species.

Keywords: Seahorses, trade, biodiversity conservation.