Monday, January 25, 2016. In Peru has been captured by some fishermen from the cove The cross, the world’s largest manta ray; since it has a weight of 1,000 kilos and about eight meters in length, according to the local media. This news was released thanks to a photograph spread on social networks that was taken by a tourist; her while she was transferred to a crane.
Felix Quinde Feijoobeing the prosecutor of Tumbes Crime Prevention; has asked all the representatives of the Institute of the Sea of Peru (Imarpe), that they let you know all the information about this fact; since it is an unconventional species on the coasts of the country. This variety of Manta Ray lacks a poisonous stinger in its tail, and the largest could reach a few 8.4 meters weighing fourteen hundred kilograms.
Thanks to this situation, the Peruvian Government has approved the exhaustive regulation, in favor of protecting the Giant Manta Ray; which is an extremely vulnerable species to fishing activity, being a very significant contribution to safeguard one of the most treasured marine animals in the world. This was reported by Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), as the population of manta rays has been under constant global threat; due to fisheries focused on capturing them for their meat and gills and also due to simultaneous accidents in fishing nets.
Since the beginning of last year, the prey of this Giant Manta Ray has forced to trigger greater protection in these animals that have been sold in Asian markets as a “compound for health”. The Peruvian country has the largest number of populations of this little-known species; therefore, a Ministerial Resolution was approved on December 31, 2015, by the Ministry of Production of Perupublished in the newspaper A Peruvian man; settling down the outright ban on manta ray fishing, and in case of an accident, they must be released as soon as possible.
The executive director of «WildAid,» Peter Knights; declared to the media that “Manta rays reproduce very slowly, and can be impacted by even the slightest fishing activity. The new level of protection implemented in Peru is vital for its survival, and paves the way for the development of a sustainable tourism industry; based on the observation of manta rays, generating 140 million dollars a year in the world”.
On the other hand, the associate director of “Manta Trust”, Josh Stewart indicated that “The Peruvian Government has taken critical and admirable measures for the protection of this unique species; with proper compliance this population will be safe from overexploitation on both sides of the border”. Peru has joined a dozen other countries with protection laws for mantas, just like its bordering country, Ecuador.