Abstract

Abstract Manta and devil rays of the subfamily Mobulinae (mobulids) are rarely studied, large, pelagic elasmobranchs, with all eight of well‐evaluated species listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened or near threatened. Mobulids have life history characteristics (matrotrophic reproduction, extremely low fecundity, and delayed age of first reproduction) that make them exceptionally susceptible to overexploitation. Targeted and bycatch mortality from fisheries is a globally important and increasing threat, and targeted fisheries are incentivized by the high value of the global trade in mobulid gill plates. Fisheries bycatch of mobulids is substantial in tuna purse seine fisheries. Thirteen fisheries in 12 countries specifically targeting mobulids, and 30 fisheries in 23 countries with mobulid bycatch were identified. Aside from a few recently enacted national restrictions on capture, there is no comprehensive monitoring, assessment or control of mobulid fisheries or bycatch. Recent listing through the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may benefit mobulids of the genus Manta (manta rays), but none of the mobulids in the genus Mobula (devil rays) are protected. The relative economic costs of catch mitigation are minimal, particularly compared with a broad range of other, more complicated, marine conservation issues. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Highlights

  • Marine organisms are subject to multiple anthropogenic threats (Stevens et al, 2000; Lewison et al, 2004; Dulvy et al, 2014), and long-lived species with low fecundity are vulnerable (Owens and Bennett, 2000)

  • Manta alfredi Reef manta ray Manta birostris Giant manta ray Mobula eregoodootenkee Pygmy devil ray Mobula hypostoma Atlantic devil ray Mobula japanica Spinetail devil ray Mobula kuhlii Shortfin devil ray Mobula mobular Giant devil ray Mobula munkiana Munk’s devil ray Mobula rochebrunei Lesser Guinean devil ray Mobula tarapacana Chilean devil ray Mobula thurstoni Smoothtail devil ray vulnerable vulnerable near threatened data deficient near threatened data deficient endangered near threatened vulnerable data deficient near threatened

  • In some fisheries, mobulids may be captured as bycatch but released alive (Poisson et al, 2014), these animals were included as bycatch

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Marine organisms are subject to multiple anthropogenic threats (Stevens et al, 2000; Lewison et al, 2004; Dulvy et al, 2014), and long-lived species with low fecundity (e.g. whales, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks) are vulnerable (Owens and Bennett, 2000). The 11 species of manta and devil rays, subfamily Mobulinae (mobulids) are among the most vulnerable In addition to their K-selected life history traits, they have been directly targeted in small-scale fisheries (Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, 1988; White et al, 2006a; Rohner et al, 2013) and captured as bycatch in industrial fisheries (Paulin et al, 1982; White et al, 2006a). Four species are classified as declining, and the population trajectory of the remaining seven species is unknown (IUCN, 2012) (Table 1) Given these concerns, a logical first step to the conservation of mobulids is to evaluate their life history sensitivity and threats, and potential management solutions

LIFE HISTORY
IUCN classification
FISHERIES IMPACTS
Targeted fisheries
Sri Lanka
Bycatch fisheries
Time period
Western and Central Pacific
Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
CONSERVATION GENETICS
CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Mitigate bycatch in the commercial tuna purse seine fishery
Findings
Redirect and mitigate targeting and bycatch in artisanal fisheries
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