Report on “Conservation of Elasmobranchs with emphasis on the protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and CITES listed species” on 19.09.2018 at ICAR–Tuticorin Research Centre of CMFRI

ICAR-Tuticorin Research Centre (TRC) of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) organised a one day awareness program on “Conservation of Elasmobranchs with emphasis on the protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (IWPA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed species” to the active coastal fishermen from different coastal fishing villages Thoothukudi District and nearby areas. Dr. P. P. Manojkumar, Principal Scientist & Scientist-in-charge, Tuticorin Research Centre, ICAR-CMFRI welcomed the gatherings and addressed the emphasis on the need for conservation of protected species of Elasmobranchs under IWPA and listed under CITES. He narrated that Elasmobranchs have very good commercial value due to its high priced fins; cartilage, intestine, teeth, liver, gills and meat are used for various preparation of medicines, ornamentals and a number of other items. He insisted that the declining of elasmobranch population is mainly due to their ultra low fecundity and longer maturation period compared with the bony fishes and shell fishes. He further stated that the Elasmobranchs species listed in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in the Schedule I, Part IIA Fishes. He highlighted that CITES is an international agreement between governments where India is signatory of which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals including Elasmobranchs and plants does not threaten their survival. He highlighted that Elasmobranchs species like sawfishes is listed in the Appendix I whereas other sharks and rays are listed in the Appendix II. Five species of sharks and all manta rays were added to Appendix II at Bangkok (Thailand), CITES at the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16), in 2013. These include the oceanic whitetip shark, the porbeagle shark, scalloped, smooth and great hammerhead sharks, as well as the great and reef manta rays. In addition, few elsamobranchs were also included in Appendix II of CITES at the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17, Johannesburg) in 2016. The species like silky shark, all the thresher sharks and all the devil rays are joined other sharks, rays and sawfishes listed in CITES. As of October 2016, twelve species of sharks, all manta and devil rays are included in Appendix II, and none in Appendix I. However, all species of sawfishes are in Appendix I