Protecting the Syngnathids

Syngnathids have an elongated semi-flexible body covered with bony plates and rings with a specialised tubular snout and a small mouth at the tip. The tube is used like mouth like a vacuum to draw in their prey.

This bizarre and wonderful family of creatures can be found in a number of habitats around the world ranging from cold ocean waters to freshwater systems. Living in areas such as seagrasses, coral reefs, and sponge gardens and around manmade features such as jetties and mesh nets, they mainly feed on small animals called zooplankton and small crustaceans like shrimp.

Depending on the surrounding environment some species have the ability to change colour and shape to; disguise themselves and for some in the family as a feeding strategy. However, their small delicate fins restrict their movements making them susceptible to predators.

Mr Mum
One of the most interesting facts about most Syngnathids is that the male of a pair is the one that becomes pregnant. The female deposits her eggs into a pouch like structure on the male where fertilisation occurs. He then carries and looks after the eggs until they develop into babies and he gives birth. This takes up to 6 weeks. Once born the baby Syngnathids can take care of themselves and actively swim, requiring no further parental care.

Pipefish look like a straight bodied seahorse with a tiny mouth. These fish range in body forms with most species being less that 20 cm in length. There are at least 5 species of the Syngnathids family that can be found within the seagrass beds of Tuggerah Lakes.

Hippocampus whitei – White’s Seahorse
In Tuggerah Lakes, we have several species of Syngnathids, including White’s Seahorse.

These creatures swim slowly upright in the water, or wrap their tails around objects such as seagrass fronds to hold them in place for feeding or for stabilisation during turbulent water conditions such as storms. White's Seahorse commonly grows to 20 cm in length. White's Seahorse occurs in a variety of habitats. It can be found in shallow protected waters in seagrass, algae beds and under wharves.

Conservation and Protection
One of the largest threats to these interesting creatures is the loss or changes of their habitat. Many Syngnathids live in shallow inshore areas and on occasions around man made structures.

This makes them vulnerable to human disturbance. Increasing development has the potential to impact on seagrass beds and soft bottom habitats through pollution, stormwater / urban runoff, dredging and sewerage. Recreational activities such as boating also have the potential to impact on these fishes through anchor damage to seagrass beds. Fortunately in Australia Syngnathids are not under the significant threats, the family are under treat in areas of the South Pacific and South East Asian counties where habitat loss, over fishing, fishing with cyanide and dynamite, wide spread over harvesting and the use of the species in the traditional Chinese medicine exist.

There are 31 species of seahorse, pipehorse, seadragon and pipefish found in NSW waters. As of July 2004 all species of the families Syngnathidae, Solenostomidae and Pegasidae were listed as protected under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994.

It is now an offence to have in your possession, collect or harvest any species of seahorse, seadragons, pipefish, pipehorse, ghostpipefish or seamoths in NSW without a permit. The penalties for a corporation can include fines of up to $55,000 while in other cases they can include fines for individuals of up to $11,000 and up to 3 months in prison. Also, The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (1999) protects all Syngnathids found in Commonwealth waters, making it an offence to kill, injure, take, trade, move or export any members of the family without a Commonwealth approval permit.

How can we help?
Residents of Wyong Shire can help protect these special creatures by:

• Taking care not to pollute the lakes and other waterways by doing activities such as, washing your car on the grass
      
• Taking care around seagrass habitats
      
• Protecting riparian vegetation in the catchments to reduce nutrients entering the lakes
      
• Take care not to introduce invasive weeds (such as Caulerpa taxifolia) to the lake system. These take over the habitat of the Syngnathids
      
• Take care fishing with nets near seagrass beds

See additional information about the Syngnathids family.

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Page last updated: 27/09/2006