Despite a Decade of Global Safeguards, Manta Rays and Devil Rays Are Encountering Escalating Trade Hazards
Manta rays and devil rays, recognized as some of the world's most emblematic marine species, despite being protected under global agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Appendix II, continue to encounter significant threats from international commerce. The Manta Trust, working alongside a global collective of experts, recently released a groundbreaking study that underscores the alarming extent of exploitation these creatures face, driven by demand for their flesh and gill plates. The findings, released today in the Environmental Biology of Fishes, are based on professional assessments, interviews, and an in-depth exploration of trade and fishing data across 75 nations. Regrettably, the study unveils a wide-ranging international network of mobulid (manta and devil ray) exploitation.
Dr. Guy Stevens, CEO and Co-Founder of The Manta Trust, expressed concern, stating, “Manta and devil rays are among the most iconic and legislatively protected marine species, yet they remain incredibly vulnerable to overfishing. After over a decade of global protections under CITES, it is disheartening to observe that unsustainable trade in these species not only persists but is escalating. Urgent action, including an Appendix I uplisting, is indispensable to protect them.”
Globally, mobulids are harvested in 43 nations, with their meat consumed in at least 35 and gill plates exported from 14. Critical trade routes predominantly run through Asia and Africa, with Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia identified as prime countries for conservation intervention. Despite nearly a decade of international protections under CITES Appendix II, and national measures in over 40 countries, mobulid trade persists at unsustainable levels. While Mobulid meat is primarily consumed locally (though some cross-border trade occurs between South American, African, and Asian nations), the highly prized gill plates are primarily traded internationally. Key export hubs in Africa and Asia cater to markets in mainland China and Hong Kong, with prices for gill plates (used in traditional Chinese medicine and regarded as a delicacy in Asia) reaching as high as USD $1,260 per kilogram. The trade paths are intricate, linking coastal landing sites to global markets via land, sea, and air. Processing sites also encompass informal beach operations to large-scale facilities in nations such as Peru and India. Among the five priority nations, Myanmar stands out as a significant conservation concern. It serves not only as a consumer and exporter of mobulid products but also a transit point for gill plates imported from neighboring countries.
Lead author Dr. Marta D. Palacios from Mobula Conservation was "surprised by how pervasive the consumption and trade of mobulid products have become. This study underscores the truly global nature of the issue, with trade routes traversing continents and connecting neighboring nations. Without stronger international protections [...] the survival of these critically endangered species is at even greater risk."
Recommendations for action include stricter implementation of existing international, regional, and national regulations (such as CITES, CMS, and RFMOs), enhanced international protections like the uplisting of mobulid rays to CITES Appendix I, effective fisheries management to drastically reduce both targeted catch and bycatch, and improved tracking of mobulid catch and trade routes. The authors also stress the need for reinforced customs inspections at airports and land crossings and heightened surveillance of online marketplaces to address the rising trend of digital sales. Shifting market trends in China and Hong Kong, where sales are increasingly moving online, pose new challenges for monitoring and enforcement, necessitating collaborative international efforts.
“Conservation is not just about creating laws; it’s about ensuring they are effectively implemented,” Palacios asserted. “This study demonstrates that current protections are insufficient to address the ongoing threats to mobulid populations. Without immediate action, we risk losing these extraordinary species.”
Stevens added, “It is time to alter the course and ensure that mobulids remain a symbol of hope for ocean conservation efforts.”
- The Manta Trust's study, released in the Environmental Biology of Fishes, highlighted the need for an uplisting of mobulid rays to CITES Appendix I, as the current CITES Appendix II protections have not been sufficient in addressing the unsustainable trade sustained by countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia in Asia.
- Globally, countries such as Peru and India operate large-scale facilities in the production and processing of manta ray and devil ray gill plates, which are highly prized in traditional Chinese medicine and regarded as a delicacy in Asia, contributing to the escalating demand that drives the unsustainable trade of these species in Asia.
- The Manta Trust's CEO, Dr. Guy Stevens, emphasized the urgent need for stronger international protections and effective implementation of existing regulations like CITES Appendix I, as the survival of manta rays and devil rays is at risk due to persistent international trade, despite global agreements and national measures aimed at their protection.
