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Trade in pegasid fishes (sea moths), primarily for traditional Chinese medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Amanda C. J. Vincent
Amanda C. J. Vincent
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
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Abstract

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Pegasid fishes (sea moths) have only entered the arsenal of traditional Chinese medicine within the past few decades, but are now used in southern China and Hong Kong to treat respiratory ailments and cancers. Brief trade surveys suggest that millions of individuals of two pegasid species are used each year, and that they cost relatively little compared with other ingredients. Most pegasids are apparently a bycatch of trawl fishing, which has recently intensified near China. Trade and use of these fishes is expanding – they have been sought in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam – and should be monitored, particularly because the biology of pegasids makes these fishes vulnerable to exploitation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , July 1997 , pp. 199 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1997

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