Return of the rescued pipefish in Trafaria

The greater pipefish have returned home, after a year in aquarium. The return to the natural habitat took place as planned, in a joint operation between the ICNF and the Oceanário, with the collaboration of MARE-Ispa.

These fish are part of the group of pipefish and seahorses rescued in March 2022, in Trafaria (municipality of Almada), after the fall of a column of a pier that eventually sank.

For 1 year, the Oceanário guaranteed the welfare of these animals in an aquarium, to allow their return to nature when the pier was repaired.

During this period, these pipefish gave birth to more than a hundred individuals that have now been released in the Tagus, together with the five original fish.

Together with MARE-Ispa, a photo-identification work was also done, and genetic samples were collected.