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Project Seahorse is a marine conservation organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. Founded in 1996 by Dr. Amanda Vincent [link to Wiki bio] and Dr. Heather Koldewey [link to Wiki bio], Project Seahorse generates cutting-edge research and turns its findings into highly effective conservation interventions. The organization collaborates with other researchers, governments, and local communities.

[Let’s include an inline image in the first section. Will discuss with you when I’m in the office.] By working to protect seahorses, Project Seahorse supports marine conservation more broadly. Seahorses suffer from the same pressures and benefit from many of the same interventions as other marine life. They are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. Action for seahorse conservation directly benefits other marine animals, particularly when it comes in the form of marine protected areas or improved governance.

About 35 team members work around the world. At present, Vincent is the Director of Project Seahorse while Koldewey holds Associate Director.

History

Project Seahorse started in 1996. Its inspiration began with Dr. Amanda Vincent’s early research on seahorses in the late 1980s, while at Cambridge University. At the time, most of what was known about syngnathids was decades old. Dr. Vincent was one of the first scientists to document seahorses’ unusual mating habits.

Dr. Vincent discovered the trade in seahorses was much larger than previously suspected. By the early 1990s, it was clear that many species were facing extreme pressure from over-exploitation, pressure that was also damaging entire marine ecosystems. Dr. Vincent and Dr. Heather Koldewey, who was carrying out genetic analysis of seahorses as a research associate at the Zoological Society of London, launched Project Seahorse. Together they established an international team of researchers and community development specialists dedicated to finding ways to reduce those pressures, protect seahorse populations and ensure sustainable livelihoods for those who depend on seahorse fishing.

Beginning with the community of Handumon in the Philippines, the Project quickly spread to other countries, attracting scientists and other professionals interested in marine conservation and sustainable development. The organization works or has worked in Europe, Central America, east and southeast Asia, and North America.

Project Seahorse's success at building community support resulted in the creation of several partnerships, most notably with the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Other partners include the University of British Columbia, where Vincent holds Canada Research Chair in Marine Conservation; the Zoological Society of London, where Koldewey is Head of Global Programmes; and the TRAFFIC network's East Asia office in Hong Kong, with whom we work closely on international trade issues.

In 2006, Project Seahorse put together a retrospective of its first decade, Project Seahorse at 10.

Achievements

Project Seahorse has:

• Generated 34 locally managed marine protected areas in the Philippines to protect all marine life.
• Fostered an alliance of 1,000 families of small-scale fishers, KAMADA, that is leading in the establishment of marine reserves and enforcement against illegal fishing in the Phillippines.
• Reconciled conflicting interests in coastal marine conservation (representatives from industry, government, public institutions, higher education, and conservation groups) to make traditional Chinese medicine ecologically sustainable.
• Catalyzed the first global export controls for any marine fish of commercial importance, under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
• Prompted new regulatory options for marine fish exports globally.

Awards

• Finalist, Indianapolis Prize in Animal Conservation (2010)
• Yves Rocher Woman of the Earth Award (2007)
• Whitley Award in Animal Conservation, Royal Geographical Society (1996, 2006)
• Conservation Hero Award, Disney Conservation Fund (2006), awarded to KAMADA
• Chevron Conservation Award (2005)
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums Significant Achievement Award for International Conservation for Project Seahorse (2001)
• Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation (2000)
• Rolex Award for Enterprise (1998)
• Grand Prix International pour l’Environment Marin from the Conféderation Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (1997)

Sidebar

• [ Include Project Seahorse logo — remind me to email it to you. ]
• Founders: Dr. Amanda Vincent [link to wiki page], Dr. Heather Koldewey [link to wiki page]
• Founded: 1996
• Location: Vancouver, Canada, London, U.K., and field sites around the world
• Focus: Marine conservation
• Mission: Project Seahorse is an interdisciplinary and international organization committed to the conservationand sustainable use of the world’s coastal ecosystmes.
• Vision: A world in which marine ecosystems are healthy and well-managed.
• Website: http://www.projectseahorse.org, http://www.facebook.com/projectseahorse