Herre’s Pipefish

This species is associated with Xenia soft corals as habitat and loss of this habitat could be a threat. However, the conservation status of these corals is not well understood. Corals are threatened in the region by coastal development and pollution, destriuctive fishing practices such as trawling and the use of dynamite, increased sea surface temperatures as a result of climate change, and ocean acidification (though the latter threat is not likely applicable to soft corals) (Bruno and Selig 2007, Carpenter et al. 2008). Syngnathids are also globally threatened by bycatch and habitat destruction as a result of low densities, low mobility and high habitat faithfulness (Vincent et al. 2011). It is not yet known if these are relevant threats to the status of this species.