Once at a point of extinction, valuable marine species - sea horses and pipefishes - have now bounced back with sizeable populations. Experts who have salvaged the species and achieved healthy breeding have asked the government to lift the export ban on these marine species.

Both sea horses and pipe fishes has enormous medicinal value. Before the export ban was imposed two years ago, these marine species were exported to China. The Chinese traditional system of medicines uses extracts from these species to cure a range of chronic ailments.

“This technology of medicine preparation is, however, not available in India. We, therefore, export these valuable marine species to China,” said Dr S Rajagopal of the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology of the Annamalai University located in Tamil Nadu’s Parangipettai village.

The centre breeds about 10,000 species of sea horses and pipefishes and has already transferred them to the safe sanctuary biosphere of the Gulf of Mannar. Better still, the centre has roped in fisherfolk affected by the tsunami to breed the species.

Two years back, the government banned the export of two species of sea horses - Hippocampus kuda and Hippocampus trimaculatus and also pipefishes as they were considered ‘endangered’. The situation now, however, is far from that, experts said.

“These marine species sell at a premium price of Rs 2,400 per kg. We have trained 40 tsunami-affected women fisherfolk in two batches in breeding these species. They are ready to

take up further breeding process. If the export ban is lifted, these tsunami victims would be largely benefited,” said Dr SM Rafi.

... contd.