Peru strives to protect the rays that weigh up to two tons

The giant manta sting caught attention in April last year when a fisherman in northern Peru accidentally caught an individual weighing 900kg.

Giant manta stingray, also known as crutches, can weigh two tons and 9m long. In order to protect this fish, on December 31, 2015, Peru not only banned fishing activities, but also asked fishermen to release all manta rays that they accidentally caught in the sea.

Giant manta sting can weigh two tons.(Photo: National Geographic).

Cases of manta rays caught in nets or fishing lines are not rare. This species is also subject to intentional hunting for meat and gills, parts used to filter plankton during swimming.The plate is a fine dish in China, and a traditional medicine that is believed to detoxify, enhance blood circulation, treat cancer, benefit milk, cure chicken pox and many diseases. other. However, no scientific evidence has confirmed these uses.

According to Wild Aid, a non-governmental organization that blocks illegal wildlife trade, the illegal stingray business has a total value of $ 30 million a year, mostly concentrated in Guangzhou province. China. Demand has skyrocketed in recent years, partly to replace shark fins.

According to the New York Times report, excessive hunting affects networks of many manta rays in the world. According to the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the number of rays in the region has decreased by 80% in the past 75 years.

Manta stingrays reproduce very slowly, producing only one child for 2 - 5 years. Peru is home to the world's largest giant manta stingray population. With the new regulation, Peru followed 12 other countries seeking ways to protect manta rays at different levels. Peru's neighboring country, Ecuador, is important because manta rays often migrate between the two countries.