Africa Wild

Knysna seahorses at risk

Wednesday 15 April 2015 20:54
SABC

The future of the critically endangered Knysna seahorse species hangs in the balance. This is due to illegal fishing in the Garden Route town.

Environmental organisation, SANParks, says several of the tiny seahorses are caught and die in fishing nets. But it’s now being threatened by poachers who are trying to make a quick buck.

Recently, a poacher selling live seahorses, fled after a local resident reported him to the police.

"It is of a big concern to us. Obviously we do not want individuals removing seahorses from within the estuary. Apart from it being listed as a red data list on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and well as under the biodiversity Act of SA, we are part of the regulations for the proper administration of the Knysna protected area. We also have it written within the fact that it should not be removed or disturbed in any way," says Owen Govender from Garden Route National Park.
We will also stand by and monitor the situation in Knysna
Residents and law enforcement agencies are combined their efforts to protect the seahorse.

"We are working with Knysna SAPS as well as the neighbourhood watches, the security companies and the different law enforcement agencies. We will also stand by and monitor the situation in Knysna and get the message out there that these criminal activities will not be tolerated. The Knysna seahorse it very precious and we need to look after it in our environment," says Knysna Community Police Forum’s Cheryl Britz.

"It’s a very big concern. We have high incidences which were reported. I have opened two cases of people taking out the sea horses and poaching them for medicinal reasons and other reasons as well. I don’t think they know the importance or status of the seahorse," says Gene Conradie.

Authorities have warned that hefty fines can be imposed on those found in the illegal possession of sea horses.

Knysna Plett Herald: Knysna seahorses found dead

KNYSNA NEWS - Barely three weeks after two people tried to sell live Knysna seahorses to a member of the Knysna Basin Project (KBP) Mike Davies, on Wednesday, March 18, a young Knysna resident found three dead seahorses in the vicinity of Red Bridge.

The Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) is an endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red Data List and it is a protected species under the South African Environmental Management Biodiversity Act of 2004.

A Knysna resident's young daughter found three dead seahorses on Tuesday, April 7 near the area where a another concerned Knysna resident had pulled out an illegal crab net. The worried mother said, "In all the years that we have lived in Knysna, we have never picked up dead seahorses. Today we stopped at a small clearing just before the Red Bridge and in that tiny stretch of beach my daughter picked up three dead seahorses! What's going on?"

On Monday, April 13, SANParks’ senior ranger for Knysna, Owen Govender confirmed that an illegal crab net had recently been discovered and that it might be the cause of the death of several seahorses in the Red Bridge area. Govender said the resident who had discovered the net, had found dead seahorses in and around it.

To prevent people from robbing the Knysna Estuary of its treasures, Govender requested the public to be vigilant around the estuary and to report any suspicious activity to rangers and the SAPS.

Louw Claassens, KBP citizen scientist, said on Tuesday, March 24: "It is illegal to disturb, handle or remove any seahorses from its natural estuarine habitat. The Knysna seahorse is iconic to Knysna and all locals should stand together in protecting this amazing animal!"

The Knysna Seahorse Status (KySS) project forms part of Claassens' PhD study through Rhodes University.
Nandi Mgwadlamba, spokesperson for SANParks in Knysna, said marine rangers of the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) have beefed up efforts to apprehend people who try to sell seahorses.

Both SANParks and KBP fear that the earlier attempt to sell seahorses may suggest wider exploitation of the seahorses or can kindle illegal trade if the dealers suspect that they can make money from Knysna's seahorses.