The Federal Government has announced that giant manta ray is now protected under national environmental law.

 

The giant manta ray - which has a wingspan of up to 6.5 metres and can weigh as much as 1,400kgs – is now listed as a Migratory Species under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

 

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said that while giant manta ray populations are believed to be fairly secure in Australia, their global population has declined by over 30 per cent.

 

"For this reason, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and our national environment law are an excellent way to achieve international cooperation and coordination to better protect the species,” Mr Burke said.

 

"The major threat to manta rays internationally is overexploitation. The species has a high value in international trade, and fisheries exist overseas that target it at unsustainable levels. The species can also end up as by-catch.

 

"However, the giant manta ray is not targeted commercially or recreationally here, and is rarely reported as by-catch in Australian waters."

 

Mr Burke said the listing ensures that it is now an offence to take, trade, keep, or move the species in Commonwealth waters.