Project Seahorse

05/29/2026

is our global project hosted on iNaturalist.org – by uploading photos and details of your seahorse sightings, you can help our scientists fill research gaps to better protect these magical fishes and the seas.

It’s simple... 🔎Spot a seahorse -> 📷 Snap a photo -> 📤 Share your sighting to the iSeahorse project on iNaturalist.org.

🔗 Learn more about iSeahorse here: www.iseahorse.org

05/28/2026

🌊 What happens when coral reefs are protected from fishing?

This , we revisit research in the Philippines that shows marine reserves increase the number of species, as well as change how reef ecosystems function. The study highlights that healthy reefs are not just about biodiversity, but also about the ecological functions that keep marine ecosystems resilient.

Click here to learn more: https://projectseahorse.org/resource/marine-reserves-drive-change-in-coral-reef-invertebrate-communities/

05/22/2026

We are very pleased to share that "Advances in life‐history knowledge for 35 seahorse species from community science”, published in the Journal of Fish Biology, was recognized as one of the most-viewed papers published by the journal.

"It’s incredibly rewarding to see our research recognized among the most viewed papers in Journal of Fish Biology, and exciting to know our work is helping advance seahorse research," said Elsa Camins, lead author and research biologist at Project Seahorse.

Read the full paper here: https://projectseahorse.org/resource/advances-in-life-history-knowledge-for-35-seahorse-species-from-community-science/

05/21/2026

🐻 Think mammalian mothers do all the work? Think again!

While 90%+ of female mammals raise their young alone, this week’s spotlight study reveals an interesting pattern of male care. From t**i monkeys to raccoon dogs, fathers, brothers, and even unrelated males step up to feed, carry, and groom the young – boosting survival and creating complex social structures.

Learn more here: https://projectseahorse.org/resource/mothers-little-helpers-patterns-of-male-care-in-mammals/

05/14/2026

China’s bottom trawl fisheries have grown into one of the largest in the world – but rapid expansion over the decades have come with major environmental costs. For this week’s , we look to a review of China’s fisheries policies from 1949-2018. While the country has introduced more conservation regulations over time, the study highlights why many of these measures have not been effective.

Read more here: https://projectseahorse.org/resource/china-policies-bottom-trawl-fisheries/

05/14/2026

In a new article for The Conversation, Amanda Vincent and Sarah Foster share findings from our latest research! Around 3,000 fish species have been documented in bottom trawl catches – with modelled estimates suggesting the true number could be far higher.

The article highlights the immense biodiversity affected by bottom trawling, from commercially important fishes to threatened species such as seahorses and giant guitarfish, while also pointing to major gaps in fisheries reporting and conservation assessments.

Read full story here:

Bottom trawling operates by dragging large, weighted nets across the ocean floor, sweeping up most of the life they encounter along the way and destroying habitats.

05/06/2026

From seahorses to sharks, more than 3,000 fish species have been caught in bottom trawls, including many at risk of extinction. Our latest study shows what's recorded is only a glimpse of the true toll bottom trawling has on marine ecosystems – highlighting the urgent need to rethink how bottom trawl catches are documented, assessed, and managed.

Learn more: https://projectseahorse.org/bottom-trawling-catches-thousands-of-fish-species/

04/30/2026

Thanks to thousands of citizen scientists around the world, has grown into one of the most powerful global datasets for seahorse conservation. From new scientific discoveries to real marine protection on the ground, your sightings truly matter.

Thank you to every diver, snorkeller, and ocean explorer who has shared a sighting, and to iNaturalist for bringing this community together 💙.

Curious how these observations are turning into conservation action?
🔗Read the full story: https://projectseahorse.org/iseahorsecitizensciencemonth2026/ ‎

04/29/2026

New peer-reviewed research estimates that bottom trawling in Europe's waters costs society up to €16 billion annually, largely due to climate impacts and harmful subsidies.

And that's not even the full picture.

As highlighted in the press release, our own recent research - the world's first global inventory of its kind (projectseahorse.org/resource/global-diversity-of-marine-fishes-caught-in-bottom-trawl-fisheries/) - catalogued more than 3,000 fish species caught in bottom trawls, including endangered animals such as seahorses and sharks, as well as species that are commercially vital. The impact on ecosystems and fisheries of removing so many species from the ocean is not yet fully understood, but it is likely to be highly negative.

The evidence is mounting. Governments must take a precautionary approach and exclude bottom trawling from large swathes of the ocean, and particularly from so-called marine protected areas.