Sea Life Sydney Aquarium Celebrate Seahorse Release Success

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 12, 2020 1:10 pm

A White’s seahorse at one of the seahorse hotels

Photo Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium has reported success from their breeding program for the endangered white’s seahorse. Seahorses bred at the aquarium were released four months ago and are said to be thriving. Aquarists now hope that they will pair up and participate in the upcoming breeding season.

Since their release the seahorses have been living at a seahorse hotel an artificial structure which gradually becomes a natural structure and creates the perfect habitat for the seahorses.

A White’s seahorse at one of the seahorse hotels

Photo Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

The breeding and release project is a collaborative effort between SEALIFE Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries and the University of Technology (UTS). The program began following the listing of the white’s seahorse as endangered.

Dr. David Harasti, Senior Marine Scientist with DPI Fisheries, has over a decade of experience working with the White’s Seahorse and said; “With the species declining across its range in NSW, it’s important that we implement conservation measures to ensure the species decline in the wild is halted and reversed. Seahorse Hotels and conservation stocking are two such measures that we are trialling”.

A diver checks on one of the seahorse hotels

Photo Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

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Since their release in May the juvenile seahorses have been observed weekly by a special team of divers with guidance from a UTS Masters Research Student.

Robbie McCracken, a SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Aquarist and seahorse expert said, “The release in May was successful and, with support from the SEALIFE Trust, we’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with UTS to observe their progress and growth through weekly monitoring, and can proudly say that they are getting on really well in their new Seahorse Hotels.”

A White’s seahorse at one of the seahorse hotels

Photo Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

“We will be able to measure the full success of the program when the seahorses mate and breed, which we hope will begin this coming summer breeding season. Success here will hopefully open the door to the next avenues for the conservation of this species and their habitats.”

Learn more about Sea Life Sydney Aquarium on their website – Sea Life Sydney Aquarium