A seahorse rehabilitation project has been launched in the southern provinces after the creature was put on an international trade of endangered species list due to a plunge in the world's seahorse population.
Kasemsan Jinnawaso, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said yesterday the breeding project was launched in the Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang and the Mu Koh Chang National Park in Trat.
The trading of seahorses in Thailand was also regarded as an urgent concern by the the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).
The Fisheries Department has banned seahorse exports since July 2015.
The creature has been used in the production of souvenirs and accessories as well as Chinese traditional medicine.
He said the decline in seahorse numbers was also caused by the destruction of their natural habitat such as sea grass, coral reefs and mangroves.
According to the Fisheries Department, up to 1.2 tonnes of seahorses were exported from Thailand in 2013, at least one tonne in 2014, and 950kg in 2015.