Project Seahorse, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group, Vancouver, Canada.
Conserv Biol. 2024 Oct;38(5):e14337. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14337.
Reconciling conservation goals with sustainable resource use requires adaptive management strategies. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates global trade for species listed on Appendix II, partly by requiring member countries (parties) to ensure exports do not damage wild populations (called making positive "nondetriment findings" [NDFs]). Unfortunately, when parties find NDFs difficult, they often suspend legal trade, imposing economic costs and driving trade underground. To make it easier for parties to examine the detrimental nature of exports, we devised a spatial approach and applied it to seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) in Tamil Nadu, India, as an example. Our approach involves mapping answers to 5 key questions on species distribution (QA), pressures (QB), management measures (QC), management implementation (QD), and species' population status (QE). We gathered data from fisher interviews and published literature. Seahorse abundance was greatest in southern Palk Bay and the northern Gulf of Mannar, primarily in seagrasses and coral reefs (QA). Fishing pressure was highest in Palk Bay, primarily from bottom trawlers and dragnetters operating in shallow seahorse habitats near the coastline (QB). Management measures including a marine protected area (MPA), bottom trawl exclusion zone, and closed season were theoretically in place (QC), but their implementation was poor (QD). Fishers reported seahorse catches in 85% of the area covered by the MPA and the exclusion zone; bottom trawlers were responsible for most violations. Seahorses were also captured in Sri Lankan waters, where bottom trawling is banned. Fisher reports indicated declining seahorse catches and reduced body sizes (QE), highlighting unsustainable exploitation. Our results highlight the need for better implementation of existing management measures before a positive NDF can be made and suggest mitigation beyond bans. Such pragmatic spatial analyses can help regulate exports at sustainable levels, supporting CITES implementation for its vast range of species.
协调保护目标与可持续资源利用需要适应性管理策略。《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》（CITES）对附录 II 中列出的物种进行全球贸易管制，部分手段是要求成员国（缔约方）确保出口不会对野生种群造成损害（称为做出积极的“非损害认定”[NDF]）。不幸的是，当缔约方认为做出 NDF 困难时，它们通常会暂停合法贸易，造成经济成本，并促使贸易转入地下。为了使缔约方更容易检查出口的有害性质，我们设计了一种空间方法，并以印度泰米尔纳德邦的海马（Hippocampus spp.）为例进行了应用。我们的方法涉及映射对物种分布（QA）、压力（QB）、管理措施（QC）、管理实施（QD）和物种种群状况（QE）这 5 个关键问题的答案。我们从渔民访谈和已发表的文献中收集数据。海马的数量在帕尔克湾南部和北湾的马纳尔湾最多，主要分布在海草和珊瑚礁中（QA）。在帕尔克湾，捕鱼压力最大，主要来自在近海浅海马栖息地作业的底拖网和拖网渔船（QB）。包括海洋保护区（MPA）、底拖网禁渔区和禁渔期在内的管理措施理论上已经到位（QC），但实施情况不佳（QD）。渔民报告在 MPA 和禁渔区覆盖的 85%的区域都有海马被捕捞；底拖网渔船是大多数违规行为的罪魁祸首。在禁止底拖网捕鱼的斯里兰卡水域也捕获了海马。渔民报告表明，海马的捕捞量和体型都在减少（QE），突出了其不可持续性的开发。我们的结果强调，在做出积极的 NDF 之前，需要更好地实施现有的管理措施，并建议采取除禁令以外的缓解措施。这种务实的空间分析可以帮助以可持续的水平管理出口，支持 CITES 对其广泛物种的实施。
