Present status of seahorses fishing along the Palk Bay coast of Tamilnadu

Exploitation of seahorses by diving has been reported earlier along the Pakc Bay coast from places such as Thondi, Puthupattinam, Mullimunai and Thirupalaikudi centres (Table 1) of Tamiinadu. Owing to the high demand, the targeted fishing for seahorses expanded rapidly. Consequently, the catches also increased in 1995-1996 compared to 1993. During that period, the price of seahorses also increased by about 50 percent; accordingly the volume of trade became much higher. Consequent up on the ban by the Government of India for some of the marine finishes and their products for export, the targeted fishing has also been reduced drastically except for a minor increase in August 2002