This campaign has now closed
Manta and devil rays are at risk of extinction: they are slow to reproduce and travel long distances leaving them vulnerable to threats from fishing. We are working with scientists and policymakers worldwide to provide clear fisheries guidelines to ensure the conservation of these enigmatic animals.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
In recent decades a new market for manta and devil rays has developed for the use of their gills in a medicinal tonic, with a devastating impact on their populations: up to 130,000 manta and devil rays are caught each year to supply this trade. As global fish stocks decline, more destructive and indiscriminate industrial fishing methods are also increasing the number of manta and devil rays unintentionally caught. As a result, fisheries are the biggest threat faced by manta and devil rays today.
Solution
Collaboration is at the centre of the Manta Trust’s approach: we will work with researchers, fishers and governments worldwide to come up with new policies, guidelines and best practices recommendations to minimize the number of manta and devil rays caught in fisheries. By giving everyone involved a seat at the table, we will ensure effective measures are put in place that reduce the impact of fisheries on these species, while allowing key livelihoods to continue in a sustainable way.
