WWF-Pakistan trained skipper (Nakhuda) Badsha Nawab has released a five feet long spinetail mobula which became entangled in their tuna gillnet laid down near Ras Zarrien, Pasni Balochistan on October 12. This is the third mobulid ray safely released by fishermen since last year. First mobulid was released on May 26, 2014 whereas a large mobulid was released on August 23.
Mobulid rays are important marine animals whose population is under serious threat mainly due to over-fishing, habitat degradation and their very slow reproductive pattern. Considering their importance WWF-Pakistan initiated an awareness programme for fishermen and trained them to safely release these charismatic and gentle marine animals.
There is international concern that mobulids are slow to mature (more than 8-10 years), are long-lived (more than 40 years) but reproduce very slowly. A manta ray will give birth to a single pup every two to five years. These rays are world renowned for their charismatic beauty, gentle behaviour, and inquisitive playful nature. For this reason, tourists spend nearly $140 million annually to see these rays in the wild providing an important source of income to many countries.
One of the reasons for their decline is the emerging demand for ray gill plates in the traditional Chinese medicine. Although not scientifically proven to have any health benefits, the demand for gill plates has compelled fishermen in some of the countries to target mobulids. Luckily gill plates of mobulids are not exported from Pakistan, but still mobulids are regularly being caught as bycatch of gillnet fisheries in Pakistan.
WWF-Pakistan trained fishermen now strive to release non-target and endangered species. Since 2013 when WWF-Pakistan initiated this training programme 14 whale sharks, 3 mobulids rays, 2 sunfishes, 1 Longman's beaked whale, 2 bottlenose dolphin and thousands of marine turtles have been successfully released. Rab Nawaz, Senior Director (Biodiversity), WWF-Pakistan considered the safe release of these rare animals as a good omen for the fisheries of Pakistan and for wildlife lovers that fishermen are now concerned about protection of threatened species found in Pakistan.-PR
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