Sea Center Welcomes Giant Seahorses

The new residents are a result of a San Diego scientist striking gold twice in one day.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:40pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones depicting the intricate life cycle and breeding behaviors of the Pacific seahorse, using sweeping geometric shapes and precise botanical spirals to convey the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem.The arrival of rare Pacific seahorses at the Santa Barbara Sea Center highlights the need to protect vulnerable marine species and understand the environmental changes impacting the local coastal ecosystem.Santa Barbara Today

Researcher Ralph Appy and a team of students from Occidental College were casting finely knit nets from the shores of Coronado Island in San Diego when they discovered two rare Pacific seahorses, one of the world's largest seahorse species. The seahorses were transported to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, where they bred prolifically, and now nine of their offspring are on display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center.

Why it matters

Pacific seahorses, California's only native seahorse species, are hard to come by in the wild and are considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to declining populations from overfishing and use in traditional Chinese medicine. The new residents at the Sea Center help bring awareness to climate-induced changes taking place in the Santa Barbara Channel.

The details

After finding the pair of seahorses last spring, Appy carefully transported them to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, where the monogamous breeding pair immediately commenced their elegant mating dance. The pair produced hundreds of offspring, which the aquarium staff had to carefully raise in Kreisel tanks and distribute to other aquariums along the California coast, including nine that made their way to the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf.

  • Last spring, Appy found the pair of seahorses on the shores of Coronado Island.
  • A few months later, the breeding pair had more than 2,000 babies.

The players

Ralph Appy

A researcher from Occidental College who discovered the rare Pacific seahorses.

Olivia Cleek

An aquarist in Cabrillo's aquatic nursery where the seahorses were raised.

Max Rudelic

A senior aquarist at the Sea Center who is now caring for the new seahorse residents.

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What they’re saying

“I was especially fast”

— Ralph Appy

“We just had so many. So honestly, we were just like, 'Anyone who wants them, please take them.'”

— Olivia Cleek, aquarist

“I see kids really get inspired”

— Max Rudelic, senior aquarist

What’s next

Rudelic is now working on building additional tanks to raise the baby seahorses, with the goal of donating them to other aquariums to help educate people about the changing coastal ecosystem in the Santa Barbara Channel.

The takeaway

The arrival of these rare Pacific seahorses at the Sea Center highlights the importance of conservation efforts for vulnerable marine species and serves as a signal of the environmental changes taking place in the Santa Barbara Channel due to climate change.