Seahorses are globally threatened. In Brazil there are three species: Hippocampus reidi, Hippocampus patagonicus and Hippocampus erectus. The Brazilian Ministry of the Environment  classifi es them as vulnerable, being protected by PAN Corais (na onal ac on plan for the conserva on of coral environments). Using snorkeling diving ac vi es, inventory and monitoring of seahorses were developed to mapping the occurrence of species and its habitats during last 17 years. Seahorses occurred from north to south of Brazil, inhabi ng mangroves, estuaries, bays, environments of con nental rocky coastlands, con nental and oceanic islands. Hippocampus reidi had this same general occurrence with marked distribu on from the northeast (Maranhao) to the south (Santa Catarina) region; H. erectus had the same occurrence as H. reidi with a marked distribu on from the northeast (Rio Grande do Norte) to the southeast (Sao Paulo) region. Hippocampus patagonicus was widely distributed 

between the southeast (Rio de Janeiro) and the southern (Rio Grande do Sul) region. Although Brazil has 257 marine and coastal protected areas (PAs), the map of distribu on of seahorses shows that the PAs does not ensure the conserva on of the species, mainly of H. patagonicus, whose popula ons are concentrated outside the PAs. Hippocampus reidi is present in marine PAs, and H. erectus needs further studies, including mapping. Conclusion & Signifi cance: Our results indicate the need to evaluate public environmental policies in Brazil and suggest that H. reidi should be included in the PAN Manguezal (na onal ac on plan for the conserva on of mangrove environments), as we do not yet know if the marine popula ons are gene cally the same to those of the mangroves. In the case of H. erectus its search in natural environments is needed, and for H. patagonicus, a conserva on proposal in the light of new evidence of its restricted distribu on is necessary.