They are fascinating creatures. And look kind of intelligent the way their eyes study their environment. Truly sickening.
An excerpt:
"A clear picture has emerged about the curative activities of seahorses because researchers have found out that, in addition to their traditional use in treating erectile dysfunction [6], [9], seahorses also exhibit antitumor, antiaging, and antifatigue properties and are able to suppress neuroinflammatory responses and collagen release [8], [10]. The two-millennium history of TCM guarantees a great demand for seahorses among Chinese people, and dried seahorses are mainly consumed in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan [7]. The economic development of China, which has increased the demands for TCM, has been catastrophic for wild animals [11]. It is thus predicted that seahorses will face increasingly deleterious conditions in the future."
Even though fishery by-catch, especially from shrimp trawlers, is the principal method of seahorse capture [12], economic enticement has caused an increasing number of fishermen to employ fishing methods that specifically target seahorses in many developing nations, such as Brazil, India, and the Philippines [7]. Fishing has had drastic effects on many aspects of seahorses, such as harming individuals, destroying social structure, reducing reproduction, affecting population structure, and devastating habitats [13]; unfortunately, many of their life history traits, such as high mate fidelity, small brood sizes, lengthy parental care, and low dispersal ability, make them more susceptible to persistent exploitation
Grrr