Venezuela Releases 600 Seahorses in Nueva Esparta National Park
A seahorse. X/ @NotiEspartano
September 16, 2024 Hour: 1:37 pm
‘Wildlife is to be protected. They are indicators of the health of our ecosystems,’ Environment Minister Lorca stated.
On Monday, the Venezuelan Environment Ministry reported the release of 600 seahorses in a national park in the island state of Nueva Esparta as part of a plan to promote sustainability and environmental protection in this South American nation.
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“Wildlife is to be protected. They are indicators of the health of our ecosystems and are part of a perfect balance that allows us to continue having healthy sources of life,” said Environment Minister Josue Lorca, adding that 2,600 seahorses have been released so far.
“These are efforts to preserve an environmental heritage that belongs not only to Venezuelans but to humanity and future generations,” he emphasized.
In May, this Bolivarian ministry also reported the release of 1,000 seahorses on a beach in Mochima National Park, in the state of Sucre (northeast), as part of a sustainability plan aimed at repopulating this threatened species.
“Despite their fascinating biology, seahorses face numerous threats today, including habitat loss, pollution, overfishing and illegal trade,” the Venezuelan Environment Ministry said, adding that the release of seahorses is part of a project funded by the Climate Change Revolving Fund, which contributes to fulfilling the first line of action of the National Biological Diversity Strategy (ENDB).
According to the Red Book of Venezuelan Fauna, the Hippocampus erectus is a species that is distributed from Nova Scotia in Canada to Panama and Venezuela in the Gulf of Mexico. These seahorses are associated with mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reef areas.
Since this is one of the most commercialized species for ornamental purposes, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified it as a “vulnerable” species. In Venezuela, however, there is no evidence that there is a national or international trade that encourages its capture.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE- IUCN