More than 1,500 seahorses have now been introduced into protected marine areas across the Balearic Islands as part of a conservation project aimed at strengthening populations of two native Mediterranean species.

The project, known as “Cavallets de Mar Balears”, reached 1,517 released specimens after almost four years of work by Fundación Palma Aquarium and Banca March.

The initiative began in 2022 and combines controlled breeding, research, conservation and environmental education.

1,517 seahorses released since 2022

The latest figure stands at 1,517 seahorses introduced into different protected marine areas and Sites of Community Importance, known as LICs, across the Balearic Islands.

The project works with two native Mediterranean species: Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus.

The animals are bred and raised under controlled conditions before being released into their natural environment when they are considered sufficiently developed to survive there.

This distinction is important because the project is supporting wild populations by releasing captive-bred animals rather than simply relocating large numbers of wild seahorses.

Two native species are the focus

The conservation programme focuses on the common seahorse, Hippocampus hippocampus, and the spiny seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus.

According to the project, populations of these species in the Mediterranean have experienced significant declines in recent decades.

Fundación Palma Aquarium describes seahorses as important indicators of marine ecosystem health while also highlighting their vulnerability to changes affecting their habitat.

The project's objective is therefore not simply to increase the number of animals released, but to contribute to the longer-term recovery of the species and improve knowledge about their conservation.

How the breeding programme works

The programme begins with adult seahorses being acclimatised and encouraged to reproduce in controlled conditions.

Once reproduction is achieved, the young seahorses are raised and fed in specialised facilities.

The early stages are particularly demanding because newborn seahorses are extremely small and require carefully controlled conditions.

The Palma Aquarium project has developed systems for producing live food, including different types of plankton and other organisms needed during the animals' development.

Once the young seahorses reach a size considered appropriate for survival in the marine environment, they can be released into suitable areas.

The project is now continuing until 2028

The programme was originally established in 2022 through a collaboration between Fundación Palma Aquarium and Banca March.

That partnership was renewed in March 2026 for another two years.

The extension means the conservation work is scheduled to continue through 2028, with further research, breeding and environmental education planned.

A specialist marine-fauna veterinarian has also joined the project, while new biosecurity protocols have been introduced to strengthen the care and welfare of the animals.

More than 3.4 million people reached

The project also has an educational component.

According to the organisations behind the initiative, its environmental awareness activities have reached more than 3.4 million people.

More than 660 copies of a children's book about seahorses have also been distributed through schools across the Balearic Islands.

The aim is to introduce younger generations to the importance of marine biodiversity and the conservation of Mediterranean species.

Seahorses and the health of the Mediterranean

Seahorses are closely connected to the condition of the marine habitats in which they live.

Their vulnerability makes them useful species for conservation projects focused on the wider health of coastal ecosystems.

The decline reported for Mediterranean seahorse populations has increased interest in captive-breeding and habitat conservation programmes.

However, the release of 1,517 animals should not be interpreted as proof that wild populations have already recovered. The stated objective of the project is to contribute to population recovery, while research and monitoring remain part of the programme.

A project involving protected marine areas

The released animals have been introduced into different protected marine areas and Sites of Community Importance around the Balearic Islands.

These locations provide the project with designated areas where conservation measures can support the species and their habitats.

The programme therefore forms part of a wider approach that combines animal breeding with protection, research and public awareness.

Why captive breeding matters

Captive breeding allows researchers to raise seahorses in controlled conditions before releasing them into suitable natural habitats.

It also gives the project team the opportunity to study the animals during their development and improve protocols for feeding, welfare and biosecurity.

The Balearic Government has previously documented the project as involving reproduction under controlled conditions using seahorses recovered from accidental catches, alongside educational and awareness activities.

Funding marine conservation

The project receives support through the solidarity component of Mediterranean Fund, a sustainable investment fund managed by March A.M.

The fund focuses on the ocean economy and water sector and allocates 10% of its management fee to projects dedicated to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

This provides funding for the seahorse programme's conservation, research and educational activities.

What 1,517 releases mean for the Balearics

The latest milestone represents several years of work rather than a single release.

Since 2022, the programme has combined controlled reproduction, animal care, releases into marine habitats and public education.

The 1,517 figure is therefore best understood as the number of project animals introduced into the Balearic marine environment so far, rather than as a measure of the total wild seahorse population.

The programme will now continue for another two years, with the partners focusing on further conservation and research.

A continuing effort to protect Balearic seahorses

The latest milestone puts the number of project seahorses introduced into Balearic waters at 1,517.

For the two native species involved, the longer-term objective remains the strengthening of their populations and the protection of the marine environments on which they depend.

With the partnership extended until 2028, the conservation programme is set to continue breeding, research, monitoring and environmental education across the islands.