Our seahorse conservation work
SEA LIFE is a global leader in caring for and protecting seahorses, combining conservation breeding with pioneering research and rewilding projects around the world. Since 2015, our expert teams have successfully bred multiple seahorse species, helping to support populations that are increasingly under threat in the wild. Beyond our aquariums, SEA LIFE leads vital research programmes that use scientific expertise to understand and protect seahorses into the future. We work in Sydney to rewild the endangered White’s seahorse, study native seahorse species in UK waters, and support habitat restoration projects that rebuild the seagrass and marine environments seahorses rely on. Together, these efforts play a crucial role in protecting seahorses and the ocean ecosystems they call home.
Saving the Endangered Sydney Seahorse
In Australia, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is spearheading the recovery of the endangered White’s Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei), whose numbers have declined sharply. Working with key partners, the team collects healthy, pregnant pairs from the wild, rears their young, and releases them back into their natural habitat. To support the species’ long-term survival, 12 artificial habitat cages known as ‘Seahorse Hotels’ have been installed in Sydney Harbour. These structures mimic natural habitats and help promote breeding and population recovery, with released seahorses being tracked for up to 12 months.
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Releasing baby seahorses!
A herd of babies each smaller than a grain of rice emerged from their dads’ pouches in the final months of 2020, with a few dozen arriving just two days before the new year rolled around. Their arrival marks a successful start to the second year of the White’s Seahorse Conservation Breeding Program initiated by SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Fisheries NSW and the University of Technology Sydney.
Seahorse Conservation across the UK
SEA LIFE, together with the SEA LIFE TRUST, has been monitoring native British seahorses for four years. The spiny seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) are protected under UK law but remain data deficient by the IUCN. With MMO licenses, we study populations at two south coast sites, focusing on identification, behaviour, and biology. Each year, we conduct two censuses to estimate population size and distribution. These surveys provide valuable data that contributes to wider research and helps safeguard these remarkable species in UK waters.
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