Ghost Net Entanglement of a Vulnerable Seahorse Hippocampus kelloggi (Teleostei; Syngnathidae) from Dhamara Estuary, Bay of Bengal, India
摘要
Present study describes entanglement of a sea horse Hippocampus kelloggi in discarded nylon fishing nets or “Ghost nets”. This was observed during the routine sampling and monitoring program on 25th August 2021 in Dhamara estuary, Bay of Bengal, Odisha. This specimen is different from other similar species having well developed coronate with five short spines, backward pointing rounded cheek spine; rounded eye spine; thick body rings; thick snout and narrow body. Ghost net entanglement imposes pressure to Hippocampus kelloggi which is under vulnerable (VU) category in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Therefore, it is decisive to initiate appropriate management steps to regulate the abandoned fishing nylon net in the coastal and marine ecosystem to protect the marine biodiversity.