Estuarine Pipefish (Syngnathus watermeyeri) by © Louw Claassens
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 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.
Endemic to South Africa and found only in two of the estuaries along the country’s south-east coast, the Estuarine Pipefish has long been considered one of the world’s most threatened syngnathids. First recorded in 1963, it went unseen for more than three decades and was declared Extinct in the mid-1990s. When the species was rediscovered in 1996, it was reclassified as Critically Endangered, a status it carried for many years.
That began to change as new evidence emerged. In 2024, following a detailed reassessment, the Estuarine Pipefish was reclassified as Endangered, reflecting improved understanding rather than reduced risk. This shift was set in motion in 2019, when a team of researchers from South Africa and Australia, led by Dr Louw Claassens, Research Associate at Rhodes University, and also the Regional Focal Point for Africa for the IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group, set out to improve understanding of the species’ conservation status through targeted ecological research and to develop a Recovery Action Plan.
By pulling together historic records, carrying out extensive field surveys, and using innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) to find what was previously missed, the team built a clearer picture of where the species lives, how its populations are faring, what threatens it, and what’s needed to protect its future.
© Jason Boswell
This story highlights a less visible, but vital, form of conservation. The kind that comes from scientists continuing to ask critical questions about what’s known, and refining understanding as new data come to light.
“Our work was a powerful reminder that absence from records does not always mean absence from nature. By grounding conservation in objective assessment and robust data, we can make sure our conservation actions are well informed, and that species at risk receive the protection they truly need,” said Dr Louw Claassen.
Today, the Estuarine Pipefish remains vulnerable to extinction, but it is no longer poorly understood. A newly developed Recovery Action Plan brings together years of research into a clear roadmap outlining the actions needed to reduce extinction risk, protect critical habitats, and safeguard the species’ future.
“With the science now in place and an action plan to guide the conservation actions, there is real reason for hope. This work has given us the foundation for ensuring these estuarine pipefish remain part of South Africa’s estuaries for years to come,” added Claassens.
Learn more here.
The funder for this project was National Geographic under their Species on the Brink grant. The work was also made possible by the community of Kenton on Sea!
