Code
Hippo22Registration date
07-11-2022- Download the sheet
Description
The Hippocampus Association was founded in 2007 on the initiative of volunteers linked to the Natura 2000 Network in Murcia. Its main aim is to promote and develop initiatives related to the protection and defence of nature, environmental care and sustainable development. Its main area of action is the marine environment. Its main action projects are Hippocampus, which studies the population structure of the seahorse in the Mar Menor, the causes that have led to its decline and the evaluation of the possibilities of reproduction in captivity and its subsequent reintroduction, implementing a recovery plan for the species and its inclusion in the National Catalogue of Endangered Species of Spain. In 2017, it launched the Plumbum Project, which aims to minimise the negative impact of lead from recreational, sport and professional fishing on the marine environment and waste from this sector. In parallel, it works with the voluntary citizen action project where it actively participates in citizen science actions in the marine and coastal environment with educational projects, talks in educational centres, exhibitions, selective rubbish clean-ups, fairs, Ocean literacy workshops, monitoring of the management of the Mar Menor, among others.
Overall information
Goals
To define the population structure of the seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) at the European level. 2. To increase knowledge of the biology of the species in the Mar Menor area, with the possibility of extending it to other national and international regions. 3. To deepen our knowledge of the causes that have led to its decline. 4. To evaluate the possibilities and effectiveness of reproduction in captivity and possible reintroduction and the implementation of a recovery plan for the species, following the process of inclusion in the National Catalogue of endangered species in Spain. 5. To raise awareness among visitors, inhabitants, and users of the Mar Menor and its area of influence about the declining situation of the species, given the complex and diverse problems in the uses and protection of this area. 6. To encourage volunteering in environmental matters as a channel for citizen participation, through Citizen Science, to learn about and study nature, supporting its conservation, mainly in the marine, coastal and underwater areas. 7. To develop educational activities inside and outside the classroom aimed at young people and other social groups. 8. To collaborate and cooperate with public administrations and private entities in matters related to the protection and defense of nature, care for the environment, and sustainable development. 9. To carry out land stewardship initiatives together with marine and land stewardship agreements and actions. 10. Promote and develop marine culture initiatives (Ocean Literacy) to contribute to the protection of the oceans and their buffer zones, through collaborative projects and actions inspired by nature.
Strengths
Seahorses Census and Sygnatidae Family at Mar menor and Adjacent Mediterranean sea