Story: Aquaculture

Native seahorse

Native seahorse

Dried seahorses are used in traditional Asian medicines, while live ones are valued by fish hobbyists, who raise them in aquariums. Populations of wild seahorses have declined throughout the world due to over-harvesting. New Zealand’s native large-bellied seahorse, pictured here, is being investigated by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) scientists as a potential aquaculture species. Culturing trials to 2004 have shown that the animal can be raised economically.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Aquaculture - Industry developments', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4768/native-seahorse (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006