A SCOTS aquarium is to breed species of seahorse that may be used to help replenish endangered populations in the wild.  
 
Scientists will at first nurture three species of seahorse at a new £100,000 breeding and conservation centre based at Loch Lomond Aquarium.  
 
Rory Crawford, the aquatic bioscientist who is leading the project, said the centre and others like it around the world would play a key role in helping to conserve the fish.  
 
He said the centre's breeding programme would also give Scots the opportunity to learn more about the seahorse.  
 
Mr Crawford said: "The worldwide seahorse population has become endangered in recent years, particularly from overfishing by humans. About 20 million seahorses are caught every year to supply ingredients for traditional Chinese medicines alone.  
 
"The import and export of seahorses has been controlled under CITES - (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). But there remains a thriving black market in seahorse souvenirs and in the illegal import of protected species for the home aquarium market.  
 
"Our breeding and conservation centre offers an opportunity to educate more people about the importance of conserving these charismatic fish."  
 
Loch Lomond Aquarium is part of the Sea Life network of aquariums, which has gathered much of its original stock from illegal imports seized by Customs. The network's breeding programme began in 1995 after seven native spiny seahorses, thought to have been wiped out by pollution, were netted off the south-west coast of England.
 
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