Why protect seahorses?
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Seahorses must be protected for biological, ecological, and economic reasons.
Their extraordinary life history — only the male becomes pregnant and some species are seasonally monogamous — provides us with an unusual opportunity to expand our understanding of reproductive ecology.
They are important predators on bottom-dwelling organisms; removing them may disrupt coastal ecosystems. They are also an important source of income and food security for subsistence fishers in many parts of the world.
Protections for seahorses benefit many other marine species and ecosystems.