EU scores Pacific protections for Manta and Devil Rays

IATTC takes steps to safeguard rays, but leaves finning ban weak, and sharks under-protected

GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR// Fishing nations at the annual meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) have taken concrete, groundbreaking steps to conserve Eastern Pacific manta and devil rays, but have failed to reach consensus on proposals to strengthen the region’s ban on shark finning (slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body at sea) or on bids to curb fishing of hammerhead and Silky Sharks

The EU proposed to prohibit retention and mandate safe release of manta and devil rays in the region’s fisheries, in line with recommendations from IATTC scientific staff. The US, Ecuador, and Vanuatu spoke in favor of the proposal, but concerns expressed by Guatemala led to an exception for rays taken in developing countries’ small-scale and artisanal fisheries for domestic consumption.

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Last updated on 10 August 2015