'Rare' seahorse spotted in Cornish estuary

A spiny seahorse, like the one pictured, was spotted in a Cornish estuary recently

A spiny seahorse found in an estuary is one of only a small number discovered in Cornwall over the last decade, according to experts.

Alicia Shephard, Cornwall Council’s nature recovery officer, spotted the long-snouted seahorse during a lunchtime walk at a location not being disclosed to protect the species.

Ms Shephard said it was "an insanely rare species" to come across in Cornwall.

Only seven sightings of long-snouted seahorses – also known as spiny seahorses – have been reported in the county's waters since 2014, the authority said.

A long-snouted seahorse was also spotted off the coast of Plymouth in June 2021

The council said thriving populations of seahorses were seen as good indicators of healthy oceans and habitats for a multitude of other marine animals.

The sighting was reported to the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The centre collates data on all species sightings in the region, not just the rare and protected, for research and conservation purposes.

The council said its discovery was "a sign of the improving health of Cornish rivers and estuaries and the ongoing need to protect and restore nature in the region".

Sighting is 'special'

Ms Shephard said: "I can’t stress enough how special it is to see a seahorse thriving in Cornwall waters.

"Seahorses are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and you must have a licence to handle them.

"This is an insanely rare species to find and isn’t something most people will ever see in their lifetime."

The council said research showed seahorse populations had undergone rapid declines, with reports of seahorses disappearing from some coastal areas.

A long-snouted seahorse was also spotted off the coast of Plymouth in June 2021.