Comment from LEAH WILDE-GOULD

I collect wild dwarf seahorse and buy them from other collectors. This year I have sold less than 100, however they are a very important animal in our livestock trade. If they are put on the endangered species list my business would be adversely affected. They are a perfect animal for the aquarium trade because they are easy to keep and not expensive. It is important for the public to learn about the marine environment. Since this animal is inexpensive and easy to keep they offer a window to the habitat where they reside. They are also easily aqua cultured so they offer a valuable learning experience into the life cycle of marine invertebrates. I also work with people who aquaculture the dwarf by supplying them with fresh brood stock occasionally. There is no good scientific evidence that the dwarf seahorse is in peril in the wild. All of the reports that I have looked at suggest that the stock assessment is good and so is the sea grass beds where they reside. Just in the Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area (RNA) Report 2012 alone there is 67,237 ha of protected area including sea grass beds. Quoted from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Conditions Report 2011 “no significant overall loss of sea grass coverage in the sanctuary has occurred”. Both reports suggest that there is no evidence that the sea grass is in decline or that the Dwarf seahorse is in peril.