The "Cavallets de mar balears" seahorse project, a joint collaboration initiative between Palma Aquarium Foundation and Banca March, has taken another step forward with the release of 70 seahorses into the waters off Mallorca. This marine conservation action was carried out on 1st and 3rd October 2025 in Cala Figuera (Calvià) and Cabo Salines (Colònia de Sant Jordi), both designated as SCIs (Sites of Community Importance).
On 1st October 2025, the technical team from Palma Aquarium and its Foundation moved 66 common seahorses (Hippocampus hippocampus) from Palma Aquarium to Puerto Portals. On 3rd October, they transferred 3 Hippocampus guttulatus and 1 breeding female Hippocampus guttulatus to the port of Colònia de Sant Jordi.
To carry out the releases, the seahorses were taken to the selected SCIs aboard the Galaxie Stenella, a zero-emission electric sailing vessel operated by TrueWorld, as part of the “Love the Mediterranean” campaign.
These seahorses, born and cared for at Palma Aquarium, have spent between twelve and eighteen months at facilities dedicated specifically to the project. They remained there until they grew large enough (approximately 12 cm) to ensure their survival in the wild.
Since its launch in 2022, the project has successfully released more than 1,500 seahorses into the Balearic Sea, reinforcing populations of the two Mediterranean species: Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus.
Seahorses are key indicators of the health of marine ecosystems, but they are also highly vulnerable species. Factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, and accidental fishing have led to population declines of up to 30% in recent decades.
The “Cavallets de mar balears” project aims to reverse this trend by breeding seahorses in a controlled environment and subsequently releasing them into the wild to help strengthen the wild populations of the two species that can be found in the Mediterranean.
This initiative is possible thanks to Banca March’s Mediterranean Fund, which allocates 10% of its management fee to marine conservation projects.
With this latest action, the Palma Aquarium Foundation and Banca March have furthered their commitment to sustainability, the protection of marine biodiversity and the conservation of the Balearic Sea, reminding us that every small gesture counts towards securing the future of our oceans.
