• Seahorses in the Mediterranean are considered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “near threatened”.

  • The Oceanographic Institute of Monaco has decided to launch a study to “propose suitable protection measures in the future”.

What if seahorses were to disappear in the Mediterranean?

This scenario is credible.

And he is taken very seriously on the Monaco side.

Still quite mysterious for scientists, these curious fish are indeed considered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "almost threatened".

"This means that the natural populations are decreasing", explains the Oceanographic Institute of the Principality, which decided to seize the problem, undoubtedly caused by the pressure of the man on the marine environment.

But the phenomenon remains difficult to quantify as the observation of this species, endowed with camouflage, is so complicated.

Launched in a conservation project, the institute has in any case validated an important step by "accompanying, in the best conditions, the birth of young seahorses".

With the help of advanced technologies

After nine months spent in the basins of its Monegasque Center for the Care of Marine Species (CMSEM), reared under the watchful eye of scientists, seven

 juvenile

Hippocampus guttulatus

have just been implanted in their natural environment. They were released between 15 and 20 meters deep, not far from the Principality and in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose foundation is a partner in the project.

Born from a father (the hippocampus eggs are carried by the males) collected at sea last summer during a 160-hour diving campaign during which only three individuals were observed, these specimens will now be followed for at least five years.

"The idea is to improve our knowledge of these species, to determine the best options for their protection and, finally, to initiate conservation actions", explains Olivier Brunel, head of the aquarium service at the Institute.

The seven speckled seahorses in question but also other fish of the species can be spotted, during new dives, thanks to innovative and non-invasive technologies developed with the Biotope design office: photo-identification, acoustics passive and environmental DNA.

"Reduce the impact of humans"

“We filmed them.

We listened to them.

And we even sniffed them.

That is to say that DNA was taken from the environment, explains Robert Calcagno, the director general of the Institute.

In addition to their sound footprint, which will confirm their presence, we can also assess it by analyzing the genetic traces present in large volumes of water.

"

A real work of investigators which will make it possible to have "a follow-up of the seahorse population in the Principality of Monaco", he says.

"Either we observe others and all is well, or the population continues to decline and we will have to intervene", points out Robert Calcagno.

"But assisted reproduction must remain the last resort," assures oceanologist Patrick Louisy, a seahorse specialist also associated with the project.

It is better to work on their ecosystem and see how to reduce the impact of humans on it.

“A job that could also be useful for many other species.

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