Many years ago, on the Bay of California, Palacios began transplanting small audio devices into the rays of turning them into data messengers. Fishermen, are hired for missions, arrest animals and then bring them into the water. This strategy is called a passive sound remote, and although it seems to be invasive, made with extreme care. After being released, the animals continue to swim.
Each time an animal is tagged near a underwater receiver, the date and time of its visit is recorded. With this data, by 2021 Palacio was able to describe For the first time a breeding area of M. Minkiana In a bay in California Gulf. In order to continue rebuilding the history of these creatures, the scientists gathered the words of fishermen and observed their monumental groups with unmanned aircraft.
Palacios sleeps these days. He spent his nights to see the fishermen's fishermen, a commercial and legally caught in Mexico, when they threw the net into the sea. In those networks, Mobulas was caught accidentally. One of his experiments consisting of more than 40 nights recording the situation and evaluating whether the use of lighter mesh could reduce bycatch.
Lack of strict protection
Due to its supposedly medicinal properties, the meat and meat Mobula and meat are increasingly demanding in Asia. Palacios recently led a study to try to understand the level of the problem, involving 100 surveys and interviews in 19 countries. The team analyzed data from 75 countries, including images and records of epilepsy in Palestine, Somalia, Vietnam and Hong Kong.
Research shows that meat is exported from countries such as Bangladesh (to mainland China, India and Myanmar), Ecuador (to Peru), India, Madagascar, Madagascar, Mauritania, Myanmar (to Thailand), Sénégal , The United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The highest price of dried meat, up to $ 10/kg, is found in Bangladesh and Myanmar, while fresh meat reaches $ 8/kg in Hacin, Mexico, Brazil and the Republic of Congo, with the Congo, with M. Mobular And M. Alfredi is the most hunted species.
The panels are harvested in 14 countries across Africa and Asia, and are imported mainly on mainland China and Hong Kong, where one kilogram can cost $ 1,260. They also come to Singapore, Korea and Thailand.
The researchers also found that although international Mobula trade involved 20 countries, there were only five reports with quotes and international trade conventions on animals and wild flora. Wild risk of extinction. Since 2013, Cites has allowed Mobula trade in the effort to prevent their extinction, but the trafficking of meat and parts of these animals has not decreased. Therefore, some researchers recommend that you switch to a complete ban on trade.
Taking care of the living environment is also weak. United Nations Biodiversity goals Calling countries to specify 30 percent of their country as areas protected by marine (MPA) by 2030. While MPA has increased significantly in the past 15 years, currently, currently Only 16 percent of the sea environment It is important for sharks and rays in MPA, and only 7 percent of this habitat is an area without areas where fishing completely.
This story initially appeared on Wired in Spanish And was translated from Spanish.