Rarest of all sea creatures seen in the wild today, once upon a time the seahorse was found in every ocean of the world from 20 feet to 100 feet (area now most frequented by man). Sea dragons and Seahorses are protected globally by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), and now by Seahorse Hawaii.
Incredibly enchanting creatures in the animal kingdom, seahorses have an unusual biology, with a prehensile tail, and eyes that rotate 360% independent of the other, and the seahorse is the only animal in the entire animal kingdom in which the male has a true pregnancy!
Touring Ocean Rider’s Aquatic Education Center was a dream come true, as part of the goal of Ocean Rider and the Seahorse Hawaii Foundation’s mission is to preserve the species for the future by maintaining a high health gene bank of breeding populations of each of the 34 species of seahorses, seadragons and threatened Hawaiian Reef Fish.”
Ocean Rider‘s mission for the seahorses is to “inspire and contribute to saving our planets oceans” through education and outreach to children, schools, aquarium hobbyists and anyone curious about the sea’s magic creatures. I have been fascinated by this endangered species ever since I can remember.
Hawaiian Reef Fish and all coastal habitats on earth are highly threatened due to habitat destruction and overfishing for food and pets. “The Seahorse Hawaii Foundation is working to protect these magnificent sea creatures through education, research and propagation at our Kona Facility located within the Ocean Rider Seahorse Ranch.“
Ocean Rider Sea Horse Aqua Farm has started the Seahorse Hawaii Foundation as a way to inspire ocean awareness by saving the endangered seahorse and sea dragons around the world from extinction through conservation, research, propagation, and education.
Several of Ocean Rider‘s partner organizations and memberships include:
- World Wildlife Fund
- World Aqualculture Association
- Hawaii Aquaculture Association
- Nature Conservancy
- Sierra Club
- Soon to be Member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association
Seahorse image credit and seadragon image credit.
