Sustainability of Seahorses: Lessons Learned of Local Wisdom from Bintan Islands, Riau Islands Province

Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) has a high economic value in Bintan Island that leads to its exploitation by coastal community intensively. This study was to assess local knowledge on seahorse ecology which was captured across shoreline near the coastal communities. The research was conducted in SebongPereh village Bintan Island. The data were collected by conducting depth interviews and focus group discussion on seahorse fishermen which was selected purposively. The results revealed local fishermen have ecological knowledge related to habitat types, behavior, and monthly variation in abundance, size and reproduction pattern. The result also showed that the existence of the seahorse during the catch season moves around, follow the condition of the seaweed and tidal of sea water. This local knowledge was used by fishermen as a strategy in determining the fishing time and catchment area of a seahorse. Through such local wisdom, local fishing communities established a local institution to manage conversation and sustainability use of seahorse in waters of SebongPereh village