Seahorse population in nature reserve Ria Formosa, Algarve in Portugal
From our Boutique Guesthouse-Moncarapacho in the Algarve, we look out over the fishing village of Fuseta, the Atlantic Ocean and a unique lagoon in the Ria Formosa nature reserve. In the eastern part of the Algarve, between Faro and Tavira, there is a 60-kilometer-long belt of islands and peninsulas with a lagoon behind them.
Seahorses in the Ria Formosa National Park
This entire nature reserve also consists of sandbanks, salt pans, marshes, white beaches, and dunes with plants and animals. You could actually compare it to our Wadden Sea.
The Ria Formosa, also known as the Pearl of the Algarve, is home to the largest community of seahorses. Unfortunately, the seahorse population has declined dramatically over the past 20 years due to environmental changes, illegal fishing, and excessive shipping traffic.
Fundraising
Our German neighbors, together with other members of the local rotary club in Almancil, are raising funds for these threatened seahorses. With this money, seahorses are released into a protected area of the Ria Formosa where boating and fishing are prohibited.
As they became more and more involved in the conservation of seahorses, we were drawn into this beautiful project. In February 2023, Maarten and I visited the research center in Faro.
Scientist Jorge Palma, a researcher at the Center for Marine Sciences of the University of the Algarve, enthused about these special creatures and the repopulation project, called "Seahorse."
Photo: Researcher Jorge offers guided tours on request 
In this research center, seahorses are cared for in captivity by Jorge and his team of volunteers. A few times a year, the young seahorses are released into protected areas.
About Seahorses
Jorge told us about seahorses. They are quite peculiar fish! They only eat what they like. They are vulnerable, swim poorly, and must hold onto water plants with their tails, a strange sight. The females lay their eggs in the male's belly and leave the rest to him. Uniquely, it is the males who care for the offspring!
Photo: seahorses at the research center
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