August 24, 2012

Peru seizes 16,000 dried seahorses headed to Asia

Peru's ecological police show seized seahorsesGY-SEAHORSES-SEIZURE — Peru's ecological police show seized seahorses, in Lima. More than 16,000 dried seahorses that were about to be shipped illegally to countries in Asia were seized in Lima.

More than 16,000 dried seahorses destined for illegal export to Asia, where the animal is sought for its supposed healing properties, were seized Thursday in Peru's capital Lima, authorities said.

"We managed to seize... 16,280 seahorses destined to be sold illegally on the Asian continent," Colonel Victor Fernandez, from the police unit tasked with confiscating such goods, told AFP.

Police uncovered the cargo, weighing around 160 kilograms (350 pounds), in three cases in a search operation near the airport in the Peruvian capital.

In Asia, particularly in China, South Korea and Japan, the seahorse—protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)—is coveted for its alleged medicinal and aphrodisiac properties.

Seahorse powder sells for about $6,000 per kilo, Fernandez said.

Seahorse fishing has been banned in Peru since 2004, and is punishable by two to five years in prison.

Peruvian authorities last year seized a total of two tonnes of seahorses destined for export.

Citation: Peru seizes 16,000 dried seahorses headed to Asia (2012, August 24) retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-08-peru-seizes-dried-seahorses-asia.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Vietnam police seize frozen pangolins, iguanas

0 shares

Feedback to editors

Peru seizes 16,000 dried seahorses headed to Asia

Managing meandering waterways in a changing world

New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis

How much trust do people have in different types of scientists?

Scientists say voluntary corporate emissions targets not enough to create real climate action

Barley plants fine-tune their root microbial communities through sugary secretions

A shortcut for drug discovery: Novel method predicts on a large scale how small molecules interact with proteins

Yeast study offers possible answer to why some species are generalists and others specialists

Cichlid fishes' curiosity promotes biodiversity: How exploratory behavior aids in ecological adaptation

Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests

First-of-its-kind study shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

The Cass Report (UK)

Major Evolution in Action

If theres a 15% probability each month of getting a woman pregnant...

Can four legged animals drink from beneath their feet?

Mold in Plastic Water Bottles? What does it eat?

Dolphins don't breathe through their esophagus

Vietnam police seize frozen pangolins, iguanas

Rare seahorses found in Thames

Customs officials seize a tonne of ivory in Vietnam

CITES seeks tougher limits on coral, shark, dolphin trade

Philippines seizes butchered pangolins

Malaysian authorities rescue 130 pangolins

New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis

First-of-its-kind study shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss

Cichlid fishes' curiosity promotes biodiversity: How exploratory behavior aids in ecological adaptation

Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests

Deer are expanding north, and that's not good for caribou: Scientists evaluate the reasons why

How do birds flock? Researchers do the math to reveal previously unknown aerodynamic phenomenon

Medical Xpress

Tech Xplore

Science X

Peru seizes 16,000 dried seahorses headed to Asia

Managing meandering waterways in a changing world

New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis

How much trust do people have in different types of scientists?

Scientists say voluntary corporate emissions targets not enough to create real climate action

Barley plants fine-tune their root microbial communities through sugary secretions

A shortcut for drug discovery: Novel method predicts on a large scale how small molecules interact with proteins

Yeast study offers possible answer to why some species are generalists and others specialists

Cichlid fishes' curiosity promotes biodiversity: How exploratory behavior aids in ecological adaptation

Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests

First-of-its-kind study shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

Related Stories

Vietnam police seize frozen pangolins, iguanas

Rare seahorses found in Thames

Customs officials seize a tonne of ivory in Vietnam

CITES seeks tougher limits on coral, shark, dolphin trade

Philippines seizes butchered pangolins

Malaysian authorities rescue 130 pangolins

Recommended for you

New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis

First-of-its-kind study shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss

Cichlid fishes' curiosity promotes biodiversity: How exploratory behavior aids in ecological adaptation

Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests

Deer are expanding north, and that's not good for caribou: Scientists evaluate the reasons why

How do birds flock? Researchers do the math to reveal previously unknown aerodynamic phenomenon

Newsletter sign up

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience