Marine conservation is built on small achievements that, over time, can make a significant difference. One such milestone took place on 24th July, when the technical team at the Palma Aquarium Foundation released 55 juvenile pipefish (Syngnathus typhle) at a Site of Community Importance (SCI) in Portocolom Bay.
This is the first release of individuals bred as part of the Pipefish Project, an initiative led by the Palma Aquarium Foundation in partnership with Marilles Foundation and supported by the TUI Care Foundation. The project aims to expand scientific knowledge of these species and contribute to their conservation
The 55 pipefish were born and raised during the early stages of life in a controlled artificial environment at Palma Aquarium's facilities, where they received the care they needed until they reached a length of between 8 and 18 centimetres.
With this first release, the juveniles are beginning a new phase of life in their natural environment, bringing to fruition months of work, monitoring and dedication by the technical team.
Although they are close relatives of the seahorse, pipefish remain among the least-known species along our coasts. Their extraordinary capacity for camouflage and close association with seagrass meadows mean they often go practically unnoticed.
Their conservation is, however, particularly important. The Red Book of Fish of the Balearic Islands lists five pipefish species under some degree of threat: two are regionally extinct, two are classified as near threatened, and one is considered vulnerable. Habitat degradation in coastal areas and other pressures on the marine environment make it essential to continue researching and developing initiatives that will contribute to the protection of these species.
The release was made possible thanks to the support of numerous organisations committed to conserving the Balearic Sea. The Joves Navegants Foundation, Portocolom Yacht Club and MedGardens by Cleanwave provided the vessels required to transport the technical team and the animals to the release site. The Posidonia Surveillance Service also took part in the operation, while the 7 Mares Diving Club supplied the diving equipment needed for the underwater release. Cleanwave also took charge of capturing photographs and video footage of the event.
The liberation of these 55 juveniles represents far more than a simple release into the wild. It is the result of months of research and coordinated efforts and marks the start of a new phase for the Pipefish Project.
Through initiatives such as this, the Palma Aquarium Foundation continues to drive actions that combine research, breeding, outreach and conservation to protect marine biodiversity and further our understanding of truly remarkable species such as the pipefish.
