Over 350 endangered White's Seahorses, native to Australia's east coast, have found a new home in eight biodegradable metal "hotels" installed in Sydney's harbor, as part of a collaboration between the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, the University of Technology Sydney, and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. The effort seeks to counteract a sharp population decline triggered by habitat loss.
“It was really fantastic,” said marine biologist Mitchell Brennan, the project manager of the Sydney Seahorse Project. “These are endangered White’s Seahorses that are going out to restock the wild population here.”
Installed a month before the seahorse release to allow the growth of algae and other marine fouling, the structures break down over time, leaving a semi-natural reef benefiting the broader ecosystem.
According to Reuters the project's initial results are promising, with 20% of the seahorses remaining in the hotels a year after the 2020 release in Chowder Bay, and 10% found pregnant in the wild.
Eunice is a sustainability writer whose passion is sharing accessible eco-friendly practices with GreenCitizen's global readership. She enjoys birdwatching during her downtime, often deriving inspiration from nature's resilience. An enthusiastic cyclist, she is also an ardent advocate of eco-friendly transport.
Environment ,
Endangered White’s Seahorses Find New Home in Sydney’s Underwater ‘Hotels’
by : Eunice Rodriguez | Published: July 22, 2023
Over 350 endangered White’s Seahorses have been released into innovative biodegradable ‘hotels’ in Sydney Harbour to boost declining populations.
Over 350 endangered White's Seahorses, native to Australia's east coast, have found a new home in eight biodegradable metal "hotels" installed in Sydney's harbor, as part of a collaboration between the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, the University of Technology Sydney, and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. The effort seeks to counteract a sharp population decline triggered by habitat loss.
Installed a month before the seahorse release to allow the growth of algae and other marine fouling, the structures break down over time, leaving a semi-natural reef benefiting the broader ecosystem.
According to Reuters the project's initial results are promising, with 20% of the seahorses remaining in the hotels a year after the 2020 release in Chowder Bay, and 10% found pregnant in the wild.
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Eunice Rodriguez
Eunice is a sustainability writer whose passion is sharing accessible eco-friendly practices with GreenCitizen's global readership. She enjoys birdwatching during her downtime, often deriving inspiration from nature's resilience. An enthusiastic cyclist, she is also an ardent advocate of eco-friendly transport.
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