Historic Global Protection for Mobulid Rays: CITES Uplisting to Appendix I | Duikvaker 2026

In a landmark conservation decision at CITES CoP20 in November 2025, all species of manta and devil rays (mobulids) were uplisted to Appendix I, the highest level of protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This historic vote means that commercial international trade in any mobulid products is now prohibited, aiming to eliminate one of the main drivers of unsustainable fishing pressures that have pushed these slow‑growing, long‑lived rays to the brink of extinction.

The UK‑based marine conservation charity The Manta Trust played a central role in achieving this outcome, leading research, advocacy, and awareness efforts in the years leading up to the vote. Its #SaveTheMantas campaign helped build global momentum for stronger protections by highlighting the continuing decline of mobulid populations despite previous Appendix II listings, and by rallying support from divers, scientists, policymakers and ocean lovers worldwide.

The organisation also spearheaded or co‑authored major scientific assessments documenting the devastating scale of mobulid mortality in fisheries — with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of rays are killed annually — and used this evidence to inform the international policy process. By providing robust data, expert testimony, and strategic conservation policy work, The Manta Trust helped ensure that governments had the scientific and political case needed to support the Appendix I proposal.

While the uplisting marks a major milestone for marine conservation, The Manta Trust emphasises that the next challenge is effective implementation — strengthening enforcement, enhancing national protections, and reducing bycatch and illegal trade — to turn this historic decision into real benefits for mobulid survival.

The Manta Trust is a UK-registered conservation charity dedicated to the protection of manta rays, devil rays, and their relatives through a holistic approach that combines scientific research, conservation action, and education. Founded to address the growing threats facing these vulnerable species, the charity works across more than 20 countries, supporting long-term research programs that improve understanding of manta ray ecology, population dynamics, and migration patterns. This science underpins evidence-based conservation measures, including the establishment of marine protected areas, fisheries management reforms, and international policy protections such as listings under CITES and CMS. In parallel, the Manta Trust places strong emphasis on community engagement and capacity building, collaborating with local stakeholders to promote sustainable livelihoods and foster stewardship of marine ecosystems. Through education, public outreach, and citizen science initiatives, the organisation seeks not only to protect manta rays but also to inspire global awareness and action for the conservation of ocean biodiversity as a whole.

The Manta Trust also offers citizen science diving expeditions that allow recreational divers to actively contribute to manta ray research and conservation. Led by experienced scientists, these expeditions combine diving with hands-on training in data collection, photo-identification, and reef monitoring, enabling participants to support real research while gaining a deeper understanding of manta ecology. By engaging divers directly in the scientific process, these expeditions help expand critical datasets, support local conservation efforts, and foster a global community of ocean advocates.

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The Manta Trust

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