European Syngnathids

In a Project Seahorse initiative, including members of the IUCN SSC SPS SG, the worldwide active legislation for syngnathids was recently reviewed revealing that most European countries do not have syngnathid-specific regulations. The efficacy of the current rules and laws to protect syngnathids can only be ascertained if wild populations are monitored. Our ignorance about the current population status of most European syngnathids reflects the dearth of monitoring efforts for these fishes.

To uphold the health of its seas, Europe committed to protect 10% of its coastal and marine areas by 2020 (Aichi Target 11, Convention on Biological Diversity), while recognizing that a larger area was required, especially in the Macaronesia region and the Mediterranean Sea. Now, the EU Biodiversity Strategy has set the goal of protecting 30% of its sea by 2030. Even considering this coverage, there is concern that climate change may weaken the protective value of marine protected areas (MPAs), especially given the static boundaries of most. As some European syngnathids are largely shifting their ranges northwards, adaptive management approaches become imperative, especially those that include governance arrangements stimulated by stakeholder participation and cross-sector collaboration.