Mozambique Poacher of Dried Seahorses Charged, Illegal Trade Growing in Africa

The recent news from Mozambique of a poacher arrested and charged for being in possession of dried seahorses, will be music to the ears of TRAFFIC Wildlife which has been tracking this activity through Africa.

Seahorses are part of the family Syngnathidae, along with pipefish, pipehorses and seadragons. They are caught mainly as bycatch in many of Mozambique’s fisheries.

However, all species of seahorses are protected under the law, and the Chinese citizen caught with 9kg of dried seahorses he planned to export, now faces a long prison sentence of up to 16 years.