A proposal to list manta rays under CITES Appendix II was approved by a two-thirds majority vote by 179 countries in Bangkok last week. But what will these international trade regulations mean for the future of manta rays?
There is no doubt that international trade has contributed to the reports of declining manta populations around the world. The Chinese medicine industry in particular has driven demand for manta gill rakers, which are reported to fetch up to US$500 per kilogram in Hong Kong. While foreign traders and businesses earn considerable profits, exporting countries and their fisherman rarely reap the benefits. And it is the latter that have the most to lose–socially and economically–from declining manta populations.
To some extent, CITES will put the benefits of manta ray trade back in the hands of exporting countries. Harvest quotas will be set, products will be tracked from source to market, and premiums will be paid as the volume of trade declines and wild populations recover. But this is the simplified story, and there is much more to consider.
Countries now have 18 months to establish the checks and balances that will demonstrate that their manta exports are not detrimental to wild populations. This means monitoring population status, setting sustainable quotas based on scientific data, establishing certification systems so that products can be tracked through the supply chain, and implementing checks at the point of export.
Most importantly, countries will need to develop the human resources, the expertise and the tools to undertake these tasks. The majority of manta fisheries around the world are unregulated and unreported, meaning that most exporting countries do not have management systems in place that could be adapted to meet the requirements of CITES.
Perhaps most importantly, while these trade regulations seek to reduce supply, they do nothing to curb demand. As official exports dry up, demand may push prices ever higher, providing an incentive for black market exports. Without effective monitoring and enforcement systems, and the people to implement them, illegal trade of manta parts is a very real concern.
In the lead up to CITES, interest and support for manta conservation grew around the world. Mantas became a hot topic, and the voices of millions of people, including signatories to our petition to Save Manta Rays in Indonesia, helped convince international leaders that manta conservation is an important issue.
But this is a long-term project that does finish with the listing under CITES Appendix II. The hard work starts now, and it is imperative that this support and momentum is maintained.
While international action through mechanism such as CITES has brought attention to manta ray conservation, true success will require local action by local champions with the skills and the commitment to safeguard this majestic species. And most importantly, these champions will need our continued interest and support.
