What Does the New CITES Appendix I Listing Mean?
Why Manta & Devil Rays Need Urgent Protection
Slow to Reproduce. Easy to Overfish. Rapidly Declining.
Manta and devil rays grow slowly, take more than a decade to reach maturity, and give birth to just a single pup every few years. They gather in predictable locations, making them easy targets for fisheries. Despite previous protections, populations of all species remained at risk, with some declining by over 90%.
Trade Continues to Drive Overfishing
High Demand for Gill Plates and Meat.
Manta and devil rays are still heavily exploited for their gill plates—sold as a pseudo-traditional remedy in some Asian markets—and for their meat. Much of this trade remains illegal or unreported, driving unsustainable fishing and continued population declines, even as the new CITES Appendix I protections come into force.
Appendix I Strengthens Global Protection
A Full Commercial Trade Ban to Support Recovery.
With manta and devil rays now uplisted to CITES Appendix I, all international commercial trade in these species and their parts is prohibited. This historic decision addresses the biggest driver of overexploitation, improves enforcement, and helps close illegal markets. While implementation will take time, this is a critical step toward giving these species a real chance to recover.
Our Advocates
Meet the voices behind the movement.
From passionate advocates to public figures, our growing wave of supporters is helping to power the #SaveTheMantas campaign. Will you stand with them?
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR ADVOCATES
show YOUR SUPPORT
You can directly support our work and show your support to the world by buying a Save The Mantas t-shirt! All funds raised by Manta Trust from the sale of the t-shirts will be used to further our CITES conservation policy work.
Tag your posts with #SaveTheMantas to show the world that these rays are not just worth protecting — they’re worth fighting for.
Together, our voices can help drive the change manta and devil rays desperately need.
Together We Can Make a Difference
Your donation fuels the Manta Trust's Fisheries and Conservation Policy Programme and their critical efforts to protect manta and devil rays worldwide.
Our team pledges to pursue legal protections for manta and devil rays, to improve their enforcement, to research mitigation measures to reduce bycatch and to bring us closer to saving manta and devil rays from extinction.
KEY MOMENTS ON THE ROAD TO PROTECTION
1 JULY 2025
#SAVETHEMANTAS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
The campaign officially began! With the launch of #SaveTheMantas, we mobilised a global community to stand up for manta and devil rays. Through powerful visuals, public outreach, and strategic advocacy, we built momentum in the lead-up to CITES CoP20, where international protection for these species was on the line.
17 SEPTEMBER 2025
WORLD MANTA DAY
This year’s World Manta Day carried the theme “The Power of Protection”. It was a global moment that spotlighted the urgent need for stronger safeguards for manta and devil rays. A wave of awareness actions, campaign activations, and inspiring content helped rally voices around the world to demand lasting protection.
24 NOVEMBER - 05 DECEMBER 2025
CITES CoP20 - UZBEKISTAN
The critical decision point. During these two weeks, governments met at CITES CoP20 and voted to uplist all manta and devil rays to Appendix I. This historic decision secured a global ban on the international commercial trade of these species — a major step toward preventing extinction and safeguarding their future in our oceans.
IN THE PRESS
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