Priorities Action Statement - Draft actions for White's Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei)

Advice to consent and determining authorities

  • Provide information on the distribution of White’s Seahorse to coastal councils, consent authorities and determining authorities to ensure appropriate consideration during development assessment processes or approval of other activities which may impact this species (e.g. cleaning of swimming nets in key areas) (High priority)

Collate and review existing information

  • Collate and synthesise existing data to quantify the significance of high and moderate risk threat interactions with White’s Seahorse (Medium priority)
  • Identify knowledge gaps for the purpose of targeting future research activities (Medium priority).

Community and stakeholder liaison, awareness and education

  • Implement education initiatives to improve identification and awareness of the status of White’s Seahorse and ways to minimise impacts on the species by preparing and distributing appropriate advisory material (High priority).
  • Liaise with coastal environment centres, community groups and diving companies and media to encourage community reporting of White’s Seahorse sightings via the NSW DPI Threatened Species Sightings Program online form and to iSeahorse and iNaturalist (Medium priority).
  • Work with commercial aquaria to increase public awareness of the status and threats to White’s Seahorse (Low priority).

Habitat protection and rehabilitation

  • Reduce the impact of public and private boat moorings on White’s Seahorse habitats (High priority).
  • Develop and trial artificial habitats to promote recovery of White’s Seahorse populations (High priority).

Stocking / translocations

  • Develop and implement a captive breeding program to produce and release captive bred animals back into the wild to assist recovery of White’s Seahorse populations (Medium priority).

Compliance / enforcement

  • Maximise compliance with the ban on collecting White’s Seahorse by communicating with aquarium enthusiasts using a number of communication mediums (e.g. aquarium industry journals, newsletters, conferences) (Medium priority).
  • Implement compliance activities in key coastal areas where previous collection activities have been undertaken (Medium priority)
  • Monitor trade of syngnathids in NSW and check for presence of White’s Seahorse (Low priority).

Enhance, modify or implement NRM planning processes to minimize adverse impacts on threatened species

  • Consider information on White’s Seahorse distribution, abundance and habitat preferences during development and review of management measures for marine protected areas (Medium priority).
  • Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on White’s Seahorse habitats and water quality (Medium priority).
  • Implement the NSW Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy to coordinate efforts to reduce diffuse source water pollution impacting on White’s Seahorse habitat (Low priority).

Research / monitoring

  • Continue to monitor the distribution and abundance of White’s Seahorse at important sites (Port Stephens and Sydney Harbour) to inform population status and to assist in determining the effectiveness of recovery actions (High priority).
  • Implement research using eDNA to investigate the occurrence of White’s Seahorse in estuaries and embayments across its range (High priority).
  • Support community groups involved in monitoring and recording the presence of White’s Seahorse (Medium priority).
  • Implement genetics research to investigate population structure of White’s Seahorse across its entire range (NSW and QLD) (Low priority).
  • Develop a research project to assess potential impacts of climate change on White’s Seahorse (Low priority).
  • Where appropriate, actively encourage community involvement in aspects of White’s Seahorse recovery including for example, research and monitoring programs (Low priority).

Survey / mapping

  • Conduct and/or facilitate targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of White’s Seahorse in eastern Australia (Low priority).