Broadnosed Pipefish (Syngnathus typhle) breeding trials for restocking.

The broadnosed pipefish (Syngnathus typhle), Gremxula in Maltese, is a fascinating species of fish known for its distinctive elongated body and tubular snout. It belongs to the Syngnathidae family, which also includes seahorses and sea dragons, inhabiting the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The typical habitat of this species are seagrass beds and rocky reefs, where it skillfully camouflages itself among the vegetation.

Unlike most fish species, it is the males that take on the primary role in brooding the young. During the breeding season, females deposit their eggs into specialized brood pouches located on the male’s body. The male then fertilizes and carries the eggs until they hatch, providing protection and aeration to the developing embryos. After a gestation period of several weeks, the male gives birth to fully formed, miniature versions of the adults. These juveniles are immediately independent, though they remain in shallow, sheltered areas until they grow larger and more capable of navigating open waters. The broadnosed pipefish used to be very common in local rocky bays and shallow posedonia meadows, but have decreased drastically over the last decade or so, although no particular studies have been carried out on the current status of the cryptic fish.

From 2011 till 2015, the Conservation/Education unit of the Malta Aquaculture Research Centre (MARC) at Fort San Lucjan, carried out a number of culture trials. The species was bred successfully three times at the MARC, with the offspring reaching a very good body size before releasing into the wild in secluded bays. Some were also passed on to the National Aquarium for display.