On 8 May, at 19:00, an open online information session will take place via Zoom to present the Syngnathids Challenge, which seeks citizen collaboration in reporting sightings of seahorses and pipefish in order to complete the Atlas of Syngnathids of the Spanish Coast.

Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are protected species included in Spain’s List of Wild Species under Special Protection. The information available on the status of wild populations of these species is very limited, so it is necessary to collect, analyse and assess the available information and expand knowledge about them.

For this reason, the HippoDEC project team, led by the Marine Ecology and Resources Department at IIM-CSIC, and Observadores del Mar are launching the Syngnathids Challenge. Join the information session!

REGISTER FOR THE INFORMATION SESSION

Information session programme

Date: 08/05/2024

19:00: Presentation of the Hippo-DEC Project | IIM-CSIC

19:20: Identification of syngnathid species and habitats

19:45: How to upload observations? | Observadores del Mar – Marine citizen science platform

The HippoDEC project

The “Hippo-DEC: Diagnosis of the conservation status of seahorses on the Spanish coast, critical areas and conservation measures” project, led by researchers Miquel Planas and Jorge Urcera from the Marine Ecology and Resources Department at IIM-CSIC, has the main goal of assessing the current situation of wild seahorse populations, vulnerable species included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection since 2011. The Hippo-DEC project will make it possible to compile, analyse and assess vital information for the conservation of these species, as well as to propose protection measures and critical areas requiring special attention.

This initiative represents a significant step towards protecting and preserving seahorses on the Spanish coast, demonstrating the joint commitment of the scientific community and society to the conservation of marine biodiversity.

The project involves collaboration with Observadores del Mar, Fundación Aula do Mar do Mediterráneo, NGO Oceánidas, Fundación Oceanográfic de Valencia, NGO Ambiens, Palma Aquarium, Acuario Gijón and the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia. In addition, the research is funded by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge under the DGBBD-OAPN-FB-CSIC General Action Protocol on natural heritage, biodiversity, forestry and adaptation to global change, with the aim of identifying priority conservation areas and proposing action measures.