Sarah Foster
@sarahjfoster.bsky.social
Program Leader @ ProjectSeahorse.org; Senior Researcher @ oceans.ubc.ca, The University of British Columbia; Focal Point for Global Fisheries and Trade @ iucn-seahorse.org. Goal - Save seahorses by constraining bottom trawling.
Spoke this morning at CITES AC34 for the IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish & Seadragon Specialist Group (@iucnseahorse.bsky.social). Message: we stand ready to help governments implement the seahorse Decisions from CoP20 – and we've built 3 guidance resources to help. 🧵
I'll be representing seahorses at next week's 34th meeting of CITES Animals Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. This work unfolds in conference rooms, not oceans, but done well, it reduces the pressures seahorses face in the wild.
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · last mo.Governments have promised to protect seahorses from illegal trade. At the upcoming 34th #CITES Animals Committee meeting in Geneva, #ProjectSeahorse will be there to make sure they follow through. More here: https://ow.ly/2MjM50Zk83r
“Our biggest challenge in ocean conservation writ large is getting people to recognize fish as wildlife, the way they care about elephant ivory or rhino horn,” says @sarahjfoster.bsky.social "I am pleased to see papers like this try and shift that, and come up with solutions.”
I am incredibly proud of what our small and nimble team @projectseahorse.bsky.social achieved for seahorses and their oceans in 2025. Please have a read and reach out of anything in here interests you! We need all the buddies we can get if we are going to reduce pressures where seahorses live.
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 2mo ago🌊✨ It's here! We are excited to share the 2025 Achievements report! From the Philippines to Peru, we spent 2025 turning science into real-world conservation for seahorses and their habitats! 🔗Read the report here: https://projectseahorse.org/achievements2025/ #ProjectSeahorse #SavingSeahorses
From seahorses to sharks, more than 3,000 fish species have been recorded in bottom trawl catches, and our researchers estimate the true number could be nearly double.
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 2mo ago️‼️The hidden pressures of bottom trawling. From seahorses to sharks, more than 3,000 fish species have been caught in bottom trawls, including many at risk of extinction, according to our latest study. Learn more: https://projectseahorse.org/bottom-trawling-catches-thousands-of-fish-species/
On this #WorldOceansDay, The New York Times uses our research on the diversity of fishes caught in the worlds bottom trawls to argue why it is time to rethink this widespread and problematic fishing practice. @ubcoceans.bsky.social @projectseahorse.bsky.social @amandavincent.bsky.social
Opinion | 3,000 Different Species Are Killed for Supper. Why Do We Allow It?
nytimes.com
We are excited to share artwork from our #IconicFishes community in the Philippines! With their long snouts, gripping tails, and upright swimming posture, seahorses are truly unique. Artist Karyl Dagoc brings this magical fish into the spotlight, making it one of 18 artworks displayed at our event.
In this piece for The Conversation, we present the findings and consequences of research that set out to answer what should be basic questions in fisheries: how many fish species are being caught in bottom trawl nets, and what are they? @amandavincent.bsky.social theconversation.com/bottom-trawl...
Bottom trawling is scraping oceans of wildlife
Bottom trawling operates by dragging large, weighted nets across the ocean floor, sweeping up most of the life they encounter along the way and destroying habitats.
theconversation.com
Article on the immense ecological, social and economic costs of bottom trawling. Features research I led with @projectseahorse.bsky.social insideclimatenews.org/news/2704202...
Europe’s Trawlers Extract a Huge ‘Cost to Society’ in Bycatch and Carbon Dioxide - Inside Climate News
Bottom trawlers drag giant nets across the ocean floor, releasing stored CO2 and killing up to 75 percent of the marine life unintentionally caught up in the process.
insideclimatenews.org
🤔 Do you know how many marine fish species bottom trawls catch? Our new paper recorded nearly 3,000 species “Our estimates suggest the true number could be double that,” @sarahjfoster.bsky.social said. Great to see this covered by @mongabay.com Check it out here: news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
Study finds bottom trawling nets 3,000 marine fish species, including threatened ones
How many marine fish species do bottom trawls catch? Researchers now have a list, and it’s long, running to some 3,000 species, according to a recent study. Bottom trawling is a commercially popular, ...
news.mongabay.com
On this Earth Day, let's not forget that the Earth is 71% ocean, and that rethinking bottom trawling is one of the most important things we need to do to achieve ocean health — for people and planet. 🌊🌍 news.mongabay.com/short-articl... @projectseahorse.bsky.social @ubcoceans.bsky.social
Study finds bottom trawling nets 3,000 marine fish species, including threatened ones
How many marine fish species do bottom trawls catch? Researchers now have a list, and it’s long, running to some 3,000 species, according to a recent study. Bottom trawling is a commercially popular, ...
news.mongabay.com
🌊 New paper alert 🌊 Our latest study takes a deep dive into the relatives of seahorses, a group of fascinating but often understudied fishes. projectseahorse.org/new-study-qu...
When we talk about fisheries, it’s our last wild food source that we consume on the regular. And this is not farming. It is going out into the wilderness and bulldozing wildlife. vancouversun.com/news/bottom-... @projectseahorse.bsky.social
Bottom sea trawlers snaring many endangered species: UBC study
Researchers say bottom trawling is taking a serious toll on marine ecosystems and recommend the world rethink this practice.
vancouversun.com
Our latest research underscores the need for fisheries and managers to fully account for the extensive pressures that bottom trawls impose on marine fishes.
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 4mo agoFrom seahorses to sharks, 3,000+ fish species have been caught in bottom trawls, including those most at risk. Our new global inventory shows that what’s recorded is only a glimpse of the true toll of bottom trawling. https://projectseahorse.org/bottom-trawling-catches-thousands-of-fish-species/
From seahorses to sharks, 3,000+ fish species have been caught in bottom trawls, including those most at risk. Our new global inventory shows that what’s recorded is only a glimpse of the true toll of bottom trawling. https://projectseahorse.org/bottom-trawling-catches-thousands-of-fish-species/
So proud to have helped create the #iSeahorse platform that has expanded our knowledge of seahorses around the globe. The incredible images of these magical fishes keep me inspired everyday - check them out! I just wish I got to spend more time underwater contributing sightings of my own!!
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 4mo agoApril is #CitizenScienceMonth, and we are shining a spotlight on #iSeahorse, our very own citizen science project hosted on #iNaturalist 🌊🍃 Full story here: https://projectseahorse.org/iseahorsecitizensciencemonth2026/ #SavingSeahorses #ProjectSeahorse
April is #CitizenScienceMonth, and we are shining a spotlight on #iSeahorse, our very own citizen science project hosted on #iNaturalist 🌊🍃 Full story here: https://projectseahorse.org/iseahorsecitizensciencemonth2026/ #SavingSeahorses #ProjectSeahorse
iSeahorse - Project Seahorse
iSeahorse - saving seahorses together
iseahorse.org
The biggest hurdle is moving from policy outcomes to field outcomes—where protocols and promises become real frontline action. If we want meaningful progress, we need to break that barrier. More data alone won’t do it. More: www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-...
#worldoceansummit #advancingmarineconservation #projectseahorse | Sarah Foster
Last week I was in Montreal for the The Economist’s 13th annual World Ocean Summit. The theme was moving from commitments to action for ocean health - but I was surprised by how often action was confl...
linkedin.com
Sarah Foster@sarahjfoster.bsky.social · 5mo agoColleagues and I developed a framework to analyse policy implementation across four levels: 1. Technical outputs (research/data) 2. Policy outcomes (governance changes) 3. Field outcomes (on-the-ground action) 4. Impacts (biological/environmental results)
Colleagues and I developed a framework to analyse policy implementation across four levels: 1. Technical outputs (research/data) 2. Policy outcomes (governance changes) 3. Field outcomes (on-the-ground action) 4. Impacts (biological/environmental results)
Sarah Foster@sarahjfoster.bsky.social · 5mo agoAt the World Ocean Summit in Montreal, the focus was moving from commitments to action for ocean health. But I was struck by how often “action” was framed as collecting more data. Data matters—but it’s rarely the main barrier. 🧵
At the World Ocean Summit in Montreal, the focus was moving from commitments to action for ocean health. But I was struck by how often “action” was framed as collecting more data. Data matters—but it’s rarely the main barrier. 🧵
🎥 Watch now: Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with global trade regulations for marine fishes, @amandavincent.bsky.social and @sarahjfoster.bsky.social share insights from three case studies: seahorses, sharks, and humphead wrasse. projectseahorse.org/assessingpol... #ProjectSeahorse
🎥 Watch our talk: Assessing policy implementation in global trade of marine fishes - Project Seahorse
Our Director, Dr Amanda Vincent, and Program Leader, Dr Sarah Foster, share how conservation policies move from agreements on paper to action on the ground for marine fishes in a recent talk at the In...
projectseahorse.org
Having been part of the team that brought iSeahorse into being, I can't be more proud of all it has achieved, or more thankful to the hundreds of people that have contributed observations over the years. Saving seahorse together indeed!
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 6mo ago🎉 20,000 seahorse sightings and growing! 🤿🌊 Thanks to thousands of citizen scientists around the world, #iSeahorse has grown into one of the most powerful global datasets for seahorse science & conservation. 🔗Read the full story: projectseahorse.org/20k-iseahors... #SavingSeahorses #CitizenScience
Today is #ReversetheRedDay. For the Estuarine Pipefish (Syngnathus watermeyeri), it’s a reminder that reversing the red doesn’t always come with dramatic interventions, but often begins by getting the science right with research. Read more: www.iucn-seahorse.org/news/2026/2/...
Reversing the Red for the Estuarine Pipefish by getting the science right — IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish & Seadragon
February 7 marks Reverse the Red Day, part of a global movement focused on halting extinctions, reversing declines on the IUCN Red List, and restoring species through science-based action. For the Est...
iucn-seahorse.org
A few days later, but representation in science should be celebrated every day! My answer to why it matters: Women in STEM are changemakers who think broadly, collaborate with pragmatism, and make science stronger and more inclusive.
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 6mo agoMeet some of the incredible people behind Project Seahorse. This International Day of #WomenandGirlsinScience, we asked our team what representation in STEM means to them and why it matters. One message stood out: science is stronger when everyone belongs. projectseahorse.org/women-and-gi...
At the side event we hosted at #CITESCop20, several 🇧🇷 🇮🇩🇵🇭🇹🇭 parties shared inspiring progress that has emerged directly from the #CITES Appendix II listing of #seahorses. Grateful for all who joined, & to @sarahjfoster.bsky.social for leading this insightful session. 💙 📸 Tang Yong Jen
Showcasing "Ratapan Lautan" in our Inspired by Iconic Fishes movement - a striking woodcut by Pangrok Sulap and the Kampung Tajau Laut fishing community in Malaysia. Explore the artist statement and watch the 4-min making-of documentary 🎥👉 www.iconicfishes.art/updates/pres... #IconicFishes #Art
Presenting Ratapan Lautan (Lament of the ocean) by Pangrok Sulap — Inspired by Iconic Fishes
As we seek new ways to highlight our iconic fishes, we are delighted to showcase Ratapan Lautan ( Lament of the Ocean ) , a striking woodcut by Pangrok Sulap . Pangrok Sulap is a Malaysian collec...
iconicfishes.art
Seahorse Decisions adopted by consensus at #CoP20Samarkand @projectseahorse.bsky.social @iucnseahorse.bsky.social
Project Seahorse@projectseahorse.bsky.social · 8mo ago🌊 From #CITESCoP20 in Samarkand, Dr Sarah Foster (@sarahjfoster.bsky.social) breaks down why decisions made by 185 parties matter for seahorses. Read full story here: projectseahorse.org/why-decision... #SavingSeahorses #CoP20Samarkand #Uzbekistan #ProjectSeahorse @iucnseahorse.bsky.social
Side event today!
IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group@iucnseahorse.bsky.social · 8mo agoDr. Sarah Foster (@sarahjfoster.bsky.social), our Focal Point for Global Fisheries and Trade, is championing #seahorses at #CITESCoP20. If you see her around, do say hello, and be sure to join our side event "Global Action for Seahorses" on 29 Nov! Learn more 👉 www.iucn-seahorse.org/cites
Why decisions made at CITES CoP20 matter for seahorses: projectseahorse.org/why-decision...
Why decisions made at CITES CoP matter for seahorses - Project Seahorse
Insights from Dr Sarah Foster, Project Seahorse Program Leader, reporting from CoP20 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. I’m honoured to be at the 20th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endang...
projectseahorse.org
I've arrived in Uzbekistan to represent @iucnseahorse.bsky.social at CITES CoP20. Two weeks of critical decision-making that will affect the over 40,900 species of animals and plants listed on the CITES Appendices - including all species of seahorse. cites.org/eng/news/pr/...
CITES Parties to deliberate potential listings of animals and plants in the CITES Appendices at the landmark World Wildlife Conference in Samarkand: CITES Secretariat Final Recommendations released | ...
Geneva, 15 October 2025 — With just over one month to go before the 20th World Wildlife Conference, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
cites.org