Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
A Global Black Market Comes to Light
Over the past decade, nearly 5 million dried seahorses have been seized by authorities. These seizures—worth around CAD$29 million—reveal a global smuggling network that has operated in the shadows for years. Published in Conservation Biology, this research highlights the massive scale of illegal wildlife trade that often escapes public attention.
The Alarming Scope of Seahorse Trafficking
Researchers studied seizure data from 2010 to 2021. They uncovered cases in 62 countries. Dried seahorses, used mainly in traditional medicine, were often found in airport luggage or hidden in sea cargo. According to Dr. Sarah Foster from Project Seahorse at the University of British Columbia, these numbers likely represent only a small part of the real trade volume.
Part of a Bigger Problem
Seahorses are rarely smuggled alone. Authorities often find them with elephant ivory, pangolin scales, and other illegal wildlife products. This points to a broader trafficking system. New trade routes now connect Latin America and Europe to major markets in China and Hong Kong. This shift makes enforcement even more difficult.
Legal Trade Exists—but with Challenges
Seahorse trade is not completely illegal. Under the CITES agreement, countries can trade seahorses if they prove it’s sustainable. However, it’s hard to show sustainability. As a result, many traders bypass the legal system and sell illegally instead. This loophole hurts both enforcement and conservation efforts.
Better Enforcement Is Key
Most seahorse seizures happened in transit or at the final destination. This shows that enforcement is working at key checkpoints. Airports are common spots for discovery, especially in passenger bags. The largest shipments, however, were stopped in sea cargo. Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff of OceansAsia says stronger penalties, full investigations, and dedicated enforcement teams are vital to shutting down these operations.
More information: Sarah Foster et al, Conservation Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70047
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