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Thursday 4 May 2023 LOCAL
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Can I have a …, please?

ORANJESTAD — Want to taste something different for a change?? How
about a different breakfast from what you are used to at your hotel. Hop
in your car, drive around and anywhere around the island you will come
across a local snack shop.

Here you will find all types of snacks loved by the locals. Try a pastechi,
a Car ibbean pastry filled with cheese or meat and fried up deliciously.
Or perhaps you might want to try a croquette, a crusty little meat ball. A
dedito is also a good option, it’s a stick made out of cheese or hotdog. If
you want to try something more familiar go for a homemade hamburger
or a ham and cheese toast, but with a local touch. All these snacks are
ridiculously addictive. Freshen up with a delicious fruit shake (batido)
made out of watermelon, strawberry, banana, papaya or just mix any
fruit together. What makes these little snack shops more attractive is the
warmth of its people and with the smile you are being served.q

Rays of Hope: Strengthening Conservation Efforts for Manta Rays

Manta rays are highly of Wild Animals (CMS) and also submit your photos
charismatic creatures that International Shark Strat- via Mantatrust.org/IDthe-
inhabit the waters of the egy adopted by the Dutch Manta, email (caribbean.
Dutch Caribbean. In addi- Government (2019). islands@mantatrust.org) or
tion to being a highly prized through the Caribbean Is-
find for divers and snorkel- In addition, the Kingdom of lands Manta Conservation
ers, they are also important Netherlands, along with the
for healthy oceans as they Republic of France, has for- Program social media pag-
can help control plankton mally submitted a proposal es on Facebook and Insta-
and cycle nutrients. to include the giant manta gram. If uploading images
in Annex II of the Specially to social media, particular-
Manta rays are threatened Protected Areas and Wild- ly Instagram, tag @Carib-
by a variety of human ac- life (SPAW) Protocol, a re- beanislandsmanta in your
tivities. Luckily, increased gional agreement for the uploads to make sure these
protection for the giant protection and sustainable images are easily found
oceanic manta ray in the use of coastal and marine and included in the global
Caribbean region will be biodiversity in the Wider database.
considered in the next Caribbean Region. I
Conference of Parties for DCNA
the Cartagena Convention f approved during the next The Dutch Caribbean Na-
(COPS) meeting later this Conference of Parties for ture Alliance (DCNA) sup-
year on Aruba. the Cartagena Convention ports science communica-
by moving between the and slow to reproduce. The (COPS) IGM20/COP17 this tion and outreach in the
Manta Rays in the Carib- surface ocean, deep sea age that giant manta rays year on Aruba, this mea- Dutch Caribbean region
bean and coral reefs, they cre- are able to reproduce for sure will provide a legal by making nature-related
The Caribbean is home to ate a valuable ecological the first time is estimated framework for the highest scientific information more
two species of manta ray, connection by transporting around 9-12 years old and level of protection for the widely available through
the giant oceanic manta nutrients. manta rays only give birth conservation of the giant amongst others the Dutch
ray (Mobula birostris) and to one pup at a time. The manta ray. Caribbean Biodiversity
Caribbean Manta Rays Threats slow life cycle and low Database, DCNA’s news
(Mobula cf. Birostris- which Manta rays are threatened reproduction rate make Report your sightings platform BioNews and the
will most likely be officially by a variety of human ac- manta rays extremely vul- By submitting your (old and press.
described in the coming tivities. One of the biggest nerable to depletion. new) sightings of manta
years), as well as several threats to these creatures (and devil) rays, you can This article contains the
species of devil rays. Manta worldwide is overfishing, as Hope on the horizon help researchers and con- results from several scien-
rays are the largest type of they are often targeted for In the Dutch Caribbean, servationists learn more tific studies but the studies
rays. They pose no danger their gill plates, used in Tra- marine protected areas, and better protect these themselves are not DCNA
to humans. ditional Chinese Medicine. such as the Yarari Marine species. studies.
Mammal and Shark Sanc-
Manta rays are filter feed- They are also at risk from tuary, help protect manta You can report your sight- No rights can be derived
ers, taking in microscopic bycatch, entanglement, and devil rays. ings via Caribbean Islands from the content. DCNA is
food (plankton), includ- habitat destruction, and Manta Conservation Pro- not liable for the content
ing fish larvae, krill, shrimp, pollution. Bycatchand en- The species are also on gram or Observation.org and the in(direct) impacts
and planktonic crabs from tanglement are likely the several regional and inter- and associated free app resulting from publishing
the water column and fil- two biggest threats in the national lists, such as the ObsIdentify- which will help this article.
tering them through their Caribbean. Convention on Interna- you automatically identify
gill plates. They play a vi- tional Trade in Endangered the species by uploading Photo: Oceanic Manta
tal role in keeping the The manta rays are the Species (CITES), the Con- your photos. Ray in Aruba. Photo credit:
oceans healthy by regulat- largest species of rays, they vention on the Conserva- Danielle de Kool
ing plankton levels. Also, are long-lived (30-50 years) tion of Migratory Species In addition, you could