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Monday 29 May 2023 locAl
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Rays of Hope: Strengthening Conservation Efforts for Manta Rays

Manta rays are highly are long-lived (30-50 years) Specially Protected Areas bean.islands@mantatrust.
charismatic creatures that Manta rays are filter feed- and slow to reproduce. The and Wildlife (SPAW) Proto- org) or through the Carib-
inhabit the waters of the ers, taking in microscopic age that giant manta rays col, a regional agreement bean Islands Manta Con-
Dutch Caribbean. In addi- food (plankton), includ- are able to reproduce for for the protection and sus- servation Program social
tion to being a highly prized ing fish larvae, krill, shrimp, the first time is estimated tainable use of coastal and media pages on Facebook
find for divers and snorkel- and planktonic crabs from around 9-12 years old and marine biodiversity in the and Instagram. If upload-
ers, they are also important the water column and fil- manta rays only give birth Wider Caribbean Region. ing images to social media,
for healthy oceans as they tering them through their to one pup at a time. The If approved during the next particularly Instagram, tag
can help control plankton gill plates. They play a vi- slow life cycle and low Conference of Parties for @Caribbeanislandsmanta
and cycle nutrients. tal role in keeping the reproduction rate make the Cartagena Convention in your uploads to make
oceans healthy by regulat- manta rays extremely vul- (COPS) IGM20/COP17 this sure these images are eas-
Manta rays are threatened ing plankton levels. Also, nerable to depletion. year on Aruba, this mea- ily found and included in
by a variety of human ac- by moving between the sure will provide a legal the global database.
tivities. Luckily, increased surface ocean, deep sea Hope on the horizon framework for the highest
protection for the giant and coral reefs, they cre- In the Dutch Caribbean, level of protection for the DCNA
oceanic manta ray in the ate a valuable ecological marine protected areas, conservation of the giant The Dutch Caribbean Na-
Caribbean region will be connection by transporting such as the Yarari Marine manta ray. ture Alliance (DCNA) sup-
considered in the next nutrients. Mammal and Shark Sanc- ports science communica-
Conference of Parties for tuary, help protect manta Report your sightings tion and outreach in the
the Cartagena Convention Threats and devil rays. The species By submitting your (old and Dutch Caribbean region
(COPS) meeting later this Manta rays are threatened are also on several regional new) sightings of manta by making nature-related
year on Aruba. by a variety of human ac- and international lists, such (and devil) rays, you can scientific information more
tivities. One of the biggest as the Convention on In- help researchers and con- widely available through
Manta Rays in the Carib- threats to these creatures ternational Trade in Endan- servationists learn more amongst others the Dutch
bean worldwide is overfishing, gered Species (CITES), the and better protect these Caribbean Biodiversity Da-
The Caribbean is home to as they are often targeted Convention on the Conser- species. You can report tabase, DCNA’s news plat-
two species of manta ray, for their gill plates, used in vation of Migratory Species your sightings via Ca- form BioNews and the press.
the giant oceanic manta Traditional Chinese Medi- of Wild Animals (CMS) and ribbean Islands Manta This article contains the
ray (Mobula birostris) and cine. They are also at risk International Shark Strat- Conservation Program or results from several scien-
Caribbean Manta Rays from bycatch, entangle- egy adopted by the Dutch Observation.org and as- tific studies but the studies
(Mobula cf. Birostris- which ment, habitat destruction, Government (2019). sociated free app ObsId- themselves are not DCNA
will most likely be officially and pollution. Bycatchand entify- which will help you studies. No rights can be
described in the coming entanglement are likely the In addition, the Kingdom automatically identify the derived from the content.
years), as well as several two biggest threats in the of Netherlands, along with species by uploading your DCNA is not liable for the
species of devil rays. Manta Caribbean. the Republic of France, has photos. In addition, you content and the in(direct)
rays are the largest type of formally submitted a pro- could also submit your impacts resulting from pub-
rays. They pose no danger The manta rays are the posal to include the giant photos via Mantatrust.org/ lishing this article.q
to humans. largest species of rays, they manta in Annex II of the IDtheManta, email (carib-