VICTORY ALSO FOR THE RIES MANTAS

The international program, Ray of Hope Manta, mobilizes researchers and enthusiasts worldwide to help manta rays that are increasingly under threat. The purpose of this science-based program is to put pressure on governments to ensure that effective, effective safeguards are in place before it is too late.

LONGITUDE 181 NATURE has joined this project of preservation campaign.

The 178 CITES Member Countries (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) have confirmed the 14 / 03 / 2013 listing of 5 shark species but also 2 species of mantas rays in Appendix II of the Convention. These include the white-tipped oceanic whitetip shark (or long-legged shark), the three hammerhead sharks (scallop, large and smooth), the porbeagle shark, as well as two manta rays (Manta birostris and Manta alfredi).

Exporting countries now have 18 months to put in place a mandatory export permit system for all these species. They must ensure the survival of each of them, and will be liable to sanctions otherwise.

Thank you to everyone who sent emails or signed the petition.France being the 3eme country we can say that we have largely contributed to this victory.

A word from Shawn Heinrichs, coordinator of the “Manta Ray of Hope” project:

"This has been incredible and difficult journey and this time, justice prevailed! We have so much more work to do for mantas, but for today we drink a glass of wine! We will connect soon on next steps! And thank you so much to you, and the French fans for working hard to make this happen!

During the discussions, the arguments developed by the divers' community were noticed! Your calls have joined those of other NGOs mobilized on this action. Together, we managed to convince the participants of this 2013 conference.

In the previous session (in 2010), CITES had rejected the listing of all proposed shark species. From now on, these 5 sharks and 2 manta rays are added to the 3 species already in CITES Appendix II: white shark, whale shark and basking shark.

A first decisive step

It is a win won step by step, after 2 weeks of negotiations and challenges, especially by China, Japan and Cambodia, on the pretext of insufficient scientific data! Among the countries in favor: USA, Australia, Liberia, Mozambique, South Africa, Qatar, Uruguay, Brazil and European Union.
Remember that mantas are decimated, not for their fins like sharks, but for their pre-branchial appendages (opercula) which are the object of a trade in full expansion towards Asia where they are sought by the medicine traditional Chinese. In Southeast Asia, India and East Africa, manta rays are already overexploited. They have been ranked "Vulnerable" globally on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The manta birostris is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), which obliges its member states to enforce strict protection measures.

Our campaign continues!

But beware, a CITES Appendix II listing does not mean stopping fishing or international trade. It simply ensures that mantas will not be overexploited. This is a decisive first step, but we must continue our efforts to obtain the listing in Appendix I, which prohibits all trade except for scientific purposes. Manta rays would then join the only shark species on this list: the saw shark. This is the subject of the current campaign. Let's continue together, spread the information!

CITES classifies the species into groups which it calls “Appendices”:
- Annex I : Concerns endangered species. Their trade is only permitted within the framework of scientific research.
- Annex II : Concerns species whose trade must be regulated to avoid exploitation incompatible with their survival. You then need an export permit