Aquaculture of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi for commercial purposes

• Grant number: 25/08389-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Isabelle Leite Bayona Perez
• Grantee: Isabelle Leite Bayona Perez
• Principal investigators: Juliana Beltramin De Biasi
• Associated scholarship(s): 26/00149-4 - Growth and survival of juvenile Hippocampus reidi, BP.TT; 26/00010-6 - Larviculture of the shrimps Macrobrachium amazonicum and Macrobrachium rosenbergii., BP.TT; 26/00011-2 - Aquaculture of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi for commercialization, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Seahorses are highly sought after in the pharmaceutical industry and the global ornamental fish market. The high commercial demand has led to the concerning conservation status of several species. In light of the growing demand and the need for a blue economy, Aqua Cuesta aims to commercialize the species Hippocampus reidi through aquaculture. Currently, there are no companies in Latin America or Brazil supplying captive-bred seahorses, indicating an absence of competitors. The experiments will be conducted at the Aqua Cuesta startup, located in Botucatu, São Paulo. A total of 24 pairs of Hippocampus reidi seahorses will be used (SISBIO n° 76662-1). The broodstock will be fed daily at a rate of 10 to 15% of their live weight with live and frozen post-larvae of the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum and Macrobrachium rosenbergii, enriched with artisanal inert diets produced in-house. Each pair will be kept in a 90 L aquarium connected to an aquaculture recirculation system. For 24 months, reproduction will be monitored through the number, weight, length, and survival rate of juveniles released from the brood pouch of each male, as well as the interval between releases. From day 0 to day 5 after release by the males, the juveniles will be tested to determine the optimal diet for rearing. For this purpose, they will be transferred to kreisel-type aquariums. An experiment will be conducted using a completely randomized design with three treatments and 24 replicates. From each male's release, 300 juveniles will be collected, with 100 individuals subjected to each treatment, constituting one replicate. Each replicate will consist of offspring from different pairs to minimize genetic influence. For 30 days, three treatments with different food offerings will be tested: 100% Artemia nauplii supplemented with exogenous enzymes; 50% M. amazonicum larvae and 50% Artemia nauplii supplemented with exogenous enzymes; and 50% M. rosenbergii larvae and 50% Artemia nauplii supplemented with exogenous enzymes. The juveniles will be reared until they reach a commercial size of 8 cm. This project represents a milestone in the blue economy, promoting bioeconomy practices and fostering responsible aquaculture within the ornamental fish industry. In addition to establishing a new sustainable production model in Latin America, the technology will feature certifications ensuring traceability and good management practices, aligned with global aquaculture sector standards. (AU)