UN
Conservation Convention Accepts Ecuador Proposal to List Largest
Living Rays
Shark
Advocates International is heralding today's agreement by Parties to
the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) to list the
giant manta ray (Manta birostris) under CMS Appendix I and II. The
listing obligates CMS member countries to provide strict national
protections for giant manta rays and their habitats, and encourages
concerted conservation action among Range States. Manta rays are
under increasing threat from targeted fisheries driven by East Asian
demand for their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine.
Sonja
Fordham
President Shark
Advocates International "We
are elated that the CMS Parties have embraced Ecuador's proposal for
protecting the magnificent and exceptionally vulnerable giant manta
ray. CMS is an excellent vehicle for facilitating much needed
national and international safeguards for this wide-ranging, globally
threatened species."
Giant
manta rays are found in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate waters
around the world, often along coasts and offshore islands. Some
sub-populations number just a few hundred individuals. The greatest
threat to manta rays is fishing; their large size, slow movements,
and predictable aggregations make them easy targets. Manta rays
are protected in Hawaii, Maldives, Philippines, Mexico, Ecuador, Yap,
Western Australia, and New Zealand, but migrate into unprotected
waters of other countries and the high seas. Today's decision marks
the first international agreement aimed at conserving manta rays and
should spark new protections in key Range States such as Mozambique,
India, Sri Lanka, and Peru.
Manta
rays can grow to more than seven meters across. Females are
thought to produce just one pup after a year-long pregnancy. Manta
rays feed on plankton filtered through their gills using comb-like
projections known as 'gill rakers'. Demand for gill rakers is
reportedly resulting in dramatic increases in targeted manta ray
fisheries and subsequent depletion of some local populations. Manta
ray eco-tourism generates significant economic benefits for local
communities across the globe, particularly in Maldives, Mozambique,
and Hawaii. A new study estimates the worldwide value of manta-based
tourism and filming at US$100 million per year.
The
European Union, Senegal, Madagascar, Australia, United States, Chile,
Mozambique, Uruguay, and Norway expressed support for the proposal.
Shark
Advocates International (SAI) is a project of The Ocean Foundation
established to advance sound policies for sharks and rays.
