Arrest Marks First-ever Enforcement Action of Indonesia’s Recent National Protection of Manta Rays
A fisheries police dicusses the difference between manta and mobula ray gills after the arrest. The arrest took place in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city, and involved a shipment of 50kg of gill rakers, of which 19.5kg is from...
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BANDARLAMPUNG,Teraslampung.com– The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF),
Government of Indonesia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)’s Wildlife
Crimes Unit announced today the first-ever series of enforcement actions
against a trader of sharks and rays in Indonesia, home to the largest shark
fisheries on earth.
Government of Indonesia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)’s Wildlife
Crimes Unit announced today the first-ever series of enforcement actions
against a trader of sharks and rays in Indonesia, home to the largest shark
fisheries on earth.
Between August 22nd and September 26th, 2014, the team of officials, led
by Pantja Waluyo Prasetyanto of the Ministry of Marine
Affairs and Fisheries, arrested four traders of CITES-listed sharks and rays
products, assisted by the WCS Wildlife Crimes Unit.
by Pantja Waluyo Prasetyanto of the Ministry of Marine
Affairs and Fisheries, arrested four traders of CITES-listed sharks and rays
products, assisted by the WCS Wildlife Crimes Unit.
The first arrest took place on
August 22nd in Surabaya, Indonesia, the nation’s second largest city, and involved a shipment of
50kg (110 pounds) of gill plates, of which 19.5kg(43
pounds) were from manta rays – two newly protected
species under Indonesian law; and 13kgs (28 pounds) of marine turtle meat. The arrested
trader, named Suep, is the owner of Sido Mampir Seafood.
August 22nd in Surabaya, Indonesia, the nation’s second largest city, and involved a shipment of
50kg (110 pounds) of gill plates, of which 19.5kg(43
pounds) were from manta rays – two newly protected
species under Indonesian law; and 13kgs (28 pounds) of marine turtle meat. The arrested
trader, named Suep, is the owner of Sido Mampir Seafood.
Then on September 1st, in Bali, the
Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division, led by Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sugeng Irianto, arrested a traderJohan who
was trafficking 53 snouts of the Critically Endangered sawfish ray.
Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division, led by Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sugeng Irianto, arrested a traderJohan who
was trafficking 53 snouts of the Critically Endangered sawfish ray.
The third arrest by the MMAF team,
of a trader named Jnd, took place on September 9thin
Sidoarjo near Surabaya. The team confiscated 558 kg (1,231 pounds) of manta ray
bones, 4 kg (8.8 pounds) of sea turtle scales, manta gill plates and nautilus shells.
of a trader named Jnd, took place on September 9thin
Sidoarjo near Surabaya. The team confiscated 558 kg (1,231 pounds) of manta ray
bones, 4 kg (8.8 pounds) of sea turtle scales, manta gill plates and nautilus shells.
A final arrest occurred on
September 26th at the Indramayu fisheries landing site in West
Java, when a fisheries trader named Wrm was apprehended by
MMAF trying to sell an entire manta ray weighing 60kg (132 pounds). Under
Indonesian law, trafficking manta rays and their parts and products is
punishable by a maximum fine of USD $25,000; while for sawfish, sea turtles and
nautilus, the penalty is a maximum 5 years’ imprisonment and maximum fine of
USD $10,000.
September 26th at the Indramayu fisheries landing site in West
Java, when a fisheries trader named Wrm was apprehended by
MMAF trying to sell an entire manta ray weighing 60kg (132 pounds). Under
Indonesian law, trafficking manta rays and their parts and products is
punishable by a maximum fine of USD $25,000; while for sawfish, sea turtles and
nautilus, the penalty is a maximum 5 years’ imprisonment and maximum fine of
USD $10,000.
Reef (Manta alfredi) and
oceanic (Manta birostris) manta rays are large, long-lived,
plankton-eating cartilaginous fishes, relatives of sharks. Oceanic mantas can
reach up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length from wing-tip to wing-tip, weigh over
2 tons, and live for at least 20 years. They have very low reproductive rates,
giving birth to only one live pup every two years. A growing tourism
trade based upon manta-watching is estimated to be worth $140 million annually,
with Indonesia as one of the top-ten destinations.
oceanic (Manta birostris) manta rays are large, long-lived,
plankton-eating cartilaginous fishes, relatives of sharks. Oceanic mantas can
reach up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length from wing-tip to wing-tip, weigh over
2 tons, and live for at least 20 years. They have very low reproductive rates,
giving birth to only one live pup every two years. A growing tourism
trade based upon manta-watching is estimated to be worth $140 million annually,
with Indonesia as one of the top-ten destinations.
Manta rays are increasingly
targeted for their gill plates, the pre-branchial appendages that filter the
plankton on which they feed. These gill plates are in demand in Chinese
markets for use in a health tonic that is not recognized in traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM). One kilo of manta gill plates can fetch $250-$500 in China, and
the total trade is worth $30 million annually. This growing trade is driving
dramatic increases in largely unregulated manta fisheries that have depleted or
are depleting manta populations. Both species are listed as Vulnerable on
the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species, the global threatened species list.
targeted for their gill plates, the pre-branchial appendages that filter the
plankton on which they feed. These gill plates are in demand in Chinese
markets for use in a health tonic that is not recognized in traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM). One kilo of manta gill plates can fetch $250-$500 in China, and
the total trade is worth $30 million annually. This growing trade is driving
dramatic increases in largely unregulated manta fisheries that have depleted or
are depleting manta populations. Both species are listed as Vulnerable on
the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species, the global threatened species list.
In February 2014, the Ministry of
Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), with technical input from a coalition of
conservation organizations, including Conservation International (CI), the
Manta Trust, and WCS, banned the hunting and trade of manta rays throughout the
total area of the country (6 million square kilometers or 2.3 million square
miles). This arrest is the first law enforcement actions under the new manta
protection regulation.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), with technical input from a coalition of
conservation organizations, including Conservation International (CI), the
Manta Trust, and WCS, banned the hunting and trade of manta rays throughout the
total area of the country (6 million square kilometers or 2.3 million square
miles). This arrest is the first law enforcement actions under the new manta
protection regulation.
“Illegal trading of protected
species threatens the sustainability of marine and fisheries resources in
Indonesia,” said the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C.
Sutardjo, who congratulated the team.
species threatens the sustainability of marine and fisheries resources in
Indonesia,” said the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C.
Sutardjo, who congratulated the team.
“We have succeeded to thwart the
illegal trade of manta gill plates, which is was recently listed as a protected
species by the Government of Indonesia” said Asep Burhanudin, the Director
General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance of MMAF.
illegal trade of manta gill plates, which is was recently listed as a protected
species by the Government of Indonesia” said Asep Burhanudin, the Director
General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance of MMAF.
“This arrest is a major first step
in new enforcement efforts to protect sharks and rays in Indonesia, which
operates the largest known shark and ray fisheries on earth,” said Joe Walston,
WCS Vice President for Field Conservation. “This arrest sends a clear message
that Indonesia is serious about protecting its natural heritage against illegal
wildlife traders.”
in new enforcement efforts to protect sharks and rays in Indonesia, which
operates the largest known shark and ray fisheries on earth,” said Joe Walston,
WCS Vice President for Field Conservation. “This arrest sends a clear message
that Indonesia is serious about protecting its natural heritage against illegal
wildlife traders.”
WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit (WCU)
operates in Indonesia to provide data and technical advice to law
enforcement agencies to support the investigation and prosecution of wildlife
crimes. The WCU’s most recent success was assisting the Government of
Indonesia’s smashing of a tiger poaching ring earlier this year. Information
relating to the trade of manta rays in Indonesia was provided to the WCU by the
Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN).
operates in Indonesia to provide data and technical advice to law
enforcement agencies to support the investigation and prosecution of wildlife
crimes. The WCU’s most recent success was assisting the Government of
Indonesia’s smashing of a tiger poaching ring earlier this year. Information
relating to the trade of manta rays in Indonesia was provided to the WCU by the
Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN).
WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit is
supported by the Save Our Species Fund. Save Our Species is a joint initiative
of the Global Environment Facility, IUCN and the World Bank. A fundamental goal
is to ensure the long-term survival and well being of threatened species and
their critical habitats for biodiversity conservation. WCS’s marine
conservation work in Indonesia has been made possible through the generous
support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the David and
Lucile Packard Foundation. In addition, Conservation International provided
financial support to WCS for this manta enforcement work, and the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation have
also funded Conservation International’s policy work in Indonesia on sharks and
rays.
supported by the Save Our Species Fund. Save Our Species is a joint initiative
of the Global Environment Facility, IUCN and the World Bank. A fundamental goal
is to ensure the long-term survival and well being of threatened species and
their critical habitats for biodiversity conservation. WCS’s marine
conservation work in Indonesia has been made possible through the generous
support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the David and
Lucile Packard Foundation. In addition, Conservation International provided
financial support to WCS for this manta enforcement work, and the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation have
also funded Conservation International’s policy work in Indonesia on sharks and
rays.
WCS has prioritized saving sharks
and rays as part of a global commitment to promote the recovery of depleted and
threatened populations of marine species, halt the decline of fragile marine
ecosystems, and improve the livelihoods and resilience of coastal communities
throughout the world’s oceans.
and rays as part of a global commitment to promote the recovery of depleted and
threatened populations of marine species, halt the decline of fragile marine
ecosystems, and improve the livelihoods and resilience of coastal communities
throughout the world’s oceans.
WCS invests in a diverse array of
long-term, seascape-scale conservation strategies across the waters of 20
countries and all five oceans to reverse the decline of marine ecosystems,
restore populations of threatened marine species and improve coastal fisheries
and livelihoods.
long-term, seascape-scale conservation strategies across the waters of 20
countries and all five oceans to reverse the decline of marine ecosystems,
restore populations of threatened marine species and improve coastal fisheries
and livelihoods.
WCS inspires millions to take
action for the oceans through the New York Aquarium and all WCS parks in New
York City. To achieve long-term conservation goals, WCS marine conservationists
work with local and national governments, as well as a range of local partners
to improve management of coastal fisheries, mitigate key threats to marine
species, expand effective marine protected areas, enhance ocean industry
sustainability, and increase resilience to climate change.
action for the oceans through the New York Aquarium and all WCS parks in New
York City. To achieve long-term conservation goals, WCS marine conservationists
work with local and national governments, as well as a range of local partners
to improve management of coastal fisheries, mitigate key threats to marine
species, expand effective marine protected areas, enhance ocean industry
sustainability, and increase resilience to climate change.
Collectively,
these efforts aim to build broader and deeper public understanding, advance
scientific knowledge, and strengthen political commitment to our oceans and the
biodiversity and livelihoods they support.
these efforts aim to build broader and deeper public understanding, advance
scientific knowledge, and strengthen political commitment to our oceans and the
biodiversity and livelihoods they support.
