CoP17 Prop 44. [Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Mauritania, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United States of America] Inclusion of all ninespecies in the genus Mobula (Mobula or Devil Rays) in Appendix II
Mobula species are widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas worldwide. All have very low productivity and are taken in artisanal and largescale fisheries, both as directed and secondary catch for domestic meat consumption and the international trade in gill plates, which are used for
medicinal purposes in Asia. The most important products in trade are the plates of Mobula japonica and M. tarapacana. There is very little numerical
population information although there is an estimate for M. mobular of ca. 15,000 individuals in the north-western Mediterranean and south-central
Adriatic combined. Population declines-----some very steep-----have generally been inferred from declining catches despite increased fishing effort inseveral locations. Given the exceptionally low productivity of these species and evidence of declining catches it is possible that at least some species
meet the criteria for inclusion in Appendix II in Annex 2a of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16).
In trade, the plates of similar size are often grouped together. As plates vary in size within an individual depending on which plate they are andbetween species and age groups, it is most likely the plates are traded in packaging combining plates from numerous species. Large gill plates of M.
japanica resemble smaller plates of Appendix-II listed Manta species. This species appears to meet the criteria in Annex 2b of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev.
CoP16) (lookalike criteria). There is general similarity between gill plates of different Mobula species although some gill plates are bi-coloured andsome are not. If any Mobula in either category (bi-coloured or black) were to be listed under the criteria in Annex 2a, the others in that category would
meet the criteria in Annex 2b (lookalike criteria).
The IATTC prohibits the retention of Mobula species with an exemption for developing States, small-scale and artisanal fisheries for domestic
consumption only. Some of the tuna RFMOs require reporting of catches of Mobulids. Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS) are required to totally protect Mobula species as they are included on Appendix I and II of CMS and Annex I of theCMS MOU on the conservation of migratory sharks. However, the effectiveness and measurable conservation benefit of this ban is unclear, as thespecies are potentially still caught in fisheries for which they are a secondary catch and are most likely to suffer high mortality rates.

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17

An Appendix II listing for the species should result in improved monitoring and reporting of catches in trade which would support the ability to makeassessments of stock status and resultant management action to ensure the harvest is sustainable where it is legal.
In addition, the listing of Mobula species would resolve problems identified by the Animals Committee with Mobula lookalike issues with theAppendix II listed Manta species. There would also be an additional benefit where the listing of Mobula will assist with better catch information andless confusion as to which species are recorded as catch when using that information for the determination of non-detriment findings.

ACCEPT

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17