"This should tell us where they have originated from. "So all of the seahorses are being DNA tested to compare with those found in the Mediterranean. "The discovery of such a large number of seahorses in a short space of time is very unusual - especially in the same area of sea. "Although we would never encourage anyone to try and catch seahorses deliberately all these fish were accidental bycatch and the fishermen definitely did the right thing in contacting us. "The others were brought to us in groups of twos and threes after being found in pots in the same area of sea. "There was nine in total and they all appear to all be in remarkably good health.
"The latest discovery was a mix of adult males and females and several juveniles in a single pot. "When they eat, seahorses become more active and this speeds up the breeding process. "There are more Mysid shrimps being found in rivers and estuaries which lead to the sea. James Wright, display curator at the aquarium, said: "The large discovery could be due to a combination of warmer seas and cleaner rivers. The species, known as Hippocampus hippocampus in Latin, will then form part of a national captive breeding programme. They are all said to be in good health and are currently undergoing DNA testing to establish exactly where they have come from. Stunned fishermen have been rushing the creatures to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth where they are now being looked after. In the most recent finding, a staggering nine seahorses were found in a single pot. The mixture of 27 male, female and juvenile short-snouted seahorses were discovered in lobster pots off Selsey Bill, West Sussex in the last six weeks. Marine experts believe the creatures have expanded their territories and colonised new areas off the south coast due to these changing factors.
When they eat they become more energetic and the breeding process dramatically speeds up. The rise in temperature has also increased the numbers of Mysids shrimps, which seahorses feed on. Since the 1980s, global warming has caused sea temperatures in the English Channel to rise by two degrees.Īs a result seahorses have gradually moved further north from the balmy waters of the Mediterranean.