The proposal put forward by the Maldives to include manta rays in the CITES convention, taking the initiative to protect them, has been approved. This marks a significant success for the Maldives in its ongoing efforts to conserve manta rays.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment stated that at the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which works to protect endangered species internationally, the proposal initiated by the Maldives to move manta rays from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I has been approved.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the CITES convention, established in 1973 with the aim of controlling the trade of endangered species. The primary objective of this convention is to facilitate the sustainable use and management of critically endangered and threatened species, along with their parts and derivatives, in a way that prevents population depletion. Currently, over 40,000 species are included in this convention.
The Ministry of Environment explained that species are listed under three Appendices within the CITES convention. Appendix I includes species facing an extremely high risk of international extinction. Commercial trade of these species, their parts, and products between countries is prohibited. Limited trade may be permitted for special purposes (e.g., scientific research) with appropriate authorization.
Appendix II includes species that are threatened but for which sustainable commercial trade between countries, including their parts and products, is permitted. These are species that need to be protected before they reach a critically endangered status. Their trade requires a permit issued by the management authority of the respective countries.
Appendix III includes species that are protected in specific countries or regions. Their trade requires a certificate of origin or a re-export certificate, along with authorization from the management authority. The Maldives became a party to this convention in 2013, and a special law was enacted in 2022 to implement this convention in the Maldives.
The Ministry of Environment further noted that 16 countries co-sponsored the Maldives’ proposal to transfer manta rays from Appendix II to Appendix I at the 20th CITES meeting.
A total of 51 proposals were submitted by various countries to this meeting, and the proposal initiated by the Maldives was unanimously approved by all countries present. With this change, the commercial trade of manta rays, their parts, and products between countries is now prohibited.
Manta rays are a crucial species intrinsically linked to the Maldivian way of life, economy, and tourism. Due to climate change, their habitats and populations are declining. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has also globally designated manta rays as an endangered species.
In addition to the CITES convention, manta rays have been given special priority and protection under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and regional fisheries management agreements. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment stated that since manta rays are already a protected species in the Maldives, their inclusion in CITES Appendix I provides them with further international protection.
