Infographic: Manta and Devil Rays at Risk

Fished at alarming rates, manta and devil rays line the streets of many fish markets around the world – sought primarily for their gill rakers – the feathery structures these filter feeders use to strain their food as they glide through the water. At a one-time payout of about $250 per kilogram, is it really worth the destruction?

Infographic: Manta and Devil Rays at Risk

CITES protects manta rays

Manta Rays Receive Protection As Vulnerable Species Nations meeting at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) approve Ecuador's proposal to list the largest living rays on CITES Appendix II

Manta rays today received provisional protection against unsustainable international trade when 178 nations voted on whether to list the species under CITES Appendix II during an assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.

Manta rays, together with the five shark species under consideration, have successfully been awarded protection under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species. This marks a considerable step towards conserving this threatened species, and we sincerely hope that the decision will be confirmed by a plenary vote later this week.

Manta rays, oceanic white tip sharks, scalloped hammerheads, great hammerheads, smooth hammerheads and porbeagle sharks have all been provisionally accepted for listing under CITES Appendix II. This decision will permit some legal and sustainable trade, provided it is not detrimental to the status of wild populations. As such, exporting nations will be required to establish the scientific and regulatory expertise to monitor populations and implement harvest and export controls.

“Sharks and manta rays are extremely important to the ocean ecosystems,” said Sam Rauch, of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “The global protection that CITES offers these incredible species will complement existing international shark protection measures by ensuring their trade is sustainable and does not threaten their survival. We are thrilled these important shark and ray proposals were adopted and applaud the leadership of the many countries that helped us get there.”

CITES currently has 178 member nations, and proposed additions to Appendix II must be agreed to by a two-thirds majority during an assembly that is held only once every two to three years. Today’s result highlights the strong worldwide commitment to effective and immediate management and conservation of manta rays

Read more: CITES protects manta rays - MantaWatch http://mantawatch.com/site/2013/03/cites-protects-manta-rays/#ixzz2NGM2pAsk
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CITES protects manta rays - MantaWatch

Organic Garden and Farm at Matava — Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Doused almost nightly with fresh tropical island rain showers, Matava’s extensive organic vegetable garden and orchards offer the resort kitchen a host of fresh vegetables and fruits to use daily in every meal and provide nothing but the freshest fare.

The organic gardens abundantly offer such fruits as coconuts, pineapple, pawpaw, guava, banana, mangos, lemons, avocados and cumquats.

With the hard work of our local community farmers, the garden supplies delicious organic vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, lettuces, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, cabbages, pumpkin, capsicum, radishes, and cassava.

Organic Garden and Farm at Matava — Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort:

Matava Manta Magic, Kadavu Island, Fiji

Matava Manta Magic, Kadavu Island, Fiji