(MY) save our seahorses

August 17, 2006

Thursday August 17, 2006- The Star

Save our seahorses, save our seas

A LOT has been said about what is happening in the world, but how much is

being done about the things taking place right in our backyard? We

frequently talk about development and modern facilities but how much thought

is given to the environment?

At Johor's Pulai River Estuary, for instance, the population of seahorses

and other aquatic life is fast depleting thanks to development nearby.

Recently, I embarked on a volunteer programme organised by SOS (Save Our

Seahorses), a non-profit organisation dedicated to saving the seahorses and

the Pulai River Estuary.

Large tracts of seagrass bed have been destroyed. This is home to the

spotted seahorse, *Hippocampus kuda*.

The water level at low tide when we reached there was only up to my knee but

I was excited. We did a survey of the seagrass first, classifying it

according to species and measuring the percentage of growth in a particular

quadrant.

Along the way, we looked at other living creatures like starfish, eels,

seagrass flowers, corals, sea cucumbers and the like.

After that, we conducted a survey of the seahorses. We used a push-net to

catch them. We only managed to catch one seahorse and four pipefish. After

their size, sex, colour and pregnancy were noted, they were released back

into the river.

What saddened me was not how many seahorses we caught but the amount of

rubbish in our nets: bottles, durian skin, plastic packets, every kind of

garbage you can think of. And the layer of oil ? yuck.

A lot has to be done in this area if the habitat and the population of the

seahorses and other aquatic life are to be preserved for generations to

come.

Like the SOS website says, saving the seahorse means saving our sea (our

environment even).

More information about the seahorses and their seagrass bed habitat can be

*lionel1705

blog.thestar.com.my*

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