The IUCN Red List of Seahorses and Pipefishes in the Mediterranean Sea
13 species of seahorses, pipefishes, pipehorses, are found in the Mediterranean Sea and all have been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species at the Mediterranean level. None of the species are endemic to the Mediterranean.
Both seahorses found in the Mediterranean (Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus) are Near Threatened because their populations are declining as a result of habitat degradation caused by coastal development and destructive fishing gears such as trawls and dredges. Seahorses and pipefishes are taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries and sometimes retained and targeted for sale to aquaria, use in traditional medicines, and as curious and religious amulets.
However, more than half of the seahorses and pipefishes found in the Mediterranean Sea (seven species) are currently considered Data Deficient because there is insufficient information available to assess their extinction risk and further research is needed to understand their distribution, population trends and threats.
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