The species is also listed on various regional and international lists, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and the International Shark Strategy adopted by the Dutch government in 2019. In the Dutch Caribbean, protected marine areas, such as the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary, help protect manta rays and devil rays. The slow life cycle and slow reproduction make manta rays extremely vulnerable to extinction. The age at which giant manta rays can first reproduce is estimated at about 9 to 12 years old, and manta rays only have one pup at a time. Manta rays are the largest species of rays, they have long lifespans, around 30 to 50 years, and reproduce slowly. Bycatch and entanglement are likely the two biggest threats in the Caribbean. In addition, they are also threatened by bycatch, entanglement in fishing nets and lines, habitat loss, and pollution. They are often targeted because of their gill plates, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. One of the biggest threats to these animals globally is overfishing. Manta rays are threatened by various human activities. The animals move between the ocean surface, deep-sea, and coral reefs, creating a valuable ecological connection by transporting nutrients. They play a crucial role in maintaining healthy oceans by regulating plankton levels. Manta rays are filter feeders, consuming microscopic food (plankton), including fish larvae, krill, shrimp, and planktonic crabs, which they filter through their gill plates. Manta rays are the largest species of rays and pose no danger to humans. Birostris), which will likely be officially described in the coming years, as well as several species of devil rays. The Caribbean is home to two species of manta rays: the giant manta ray (Mobula birostris) and the Caribbean manta ray (Mobula cf. However, manta rays are threatened by various human activities. They are highly valued by divers and snorkelers and are also important for healthy oceans as they help circulate nutrients. Manta rays are very charismatic animals found in the waters of the Dutch Caribbean. Although they are protected in international waters and by laws of certain countries, they travels often through unregulated waters and are still being fished all over the world.During the upcoming meeting of the Conference of Parties for the Cartagena Convention, COPS, later this year in Aruba, consideration is being given to better protect the giant manta ray in the Caribbean. Overfishing has the real potential to wipe out large numbers of giant oceanic mantas due to the fact that they live so long and reproduce so little. Their size make them particularly susceptible to entanglement in fishing nets even when they are not voluntarily fished out. Their gills is still in high demand mostly by the traditional chinese medecine market. The Manta Trust and Marine Megafauna foundations are both working globally to research and protect the mobulae family and their habitats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared manta rays as ’vulnerable’ in 2011. All of this combined make their reproduction quite slow! The mother will usually have two years elapse between pregnancies. Manta-mums usually carry only one pup, but 2 pups have already been recorded. They are born independent after a 12-13 months gestation period. Manta rays can live as long as 50 years and are ovoviviparous, which means that they start development in an egg and hatch within the mother's body.
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