Issue 70 - March 2021

Manta Rays & Whale Sharks Gain Full Protection Under New Fisheries Law in Mozambique

After 20 years of research and lobbying efforts, the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) is thrilled to announce a major legislative victory for ocean life in Mozambique. A new commercial fishing law enacts sweeping protections for several threatened species, including whale sharks, manta rays, and all mobula species.

This new legislation, which goes into effect on January 8th, is a huge step in the right direction for the protection of threatened marine species in Mozambique. We commend the Mozambican government for taking these bold steps to protect the region’s breathtaking sea life, while still supporting the local fishing culture and economy.

“This law will make it far easier for our fishing communities to manage their impact by empowering them to create no-take zones and enforce rules limiting the use of gear that is destructive to important coral reef and mangrove habitats,” says MMF Conservation Project Manager Emerson Neves. “This will help us achieve our goal of sustainable fishing for generations to come, so we can both conserve our incredible fish life and allow people to have a stable livelihood and food source.”

The passing of this law is no small feat and has taken years of scientific research and lobbying by NGOs and institutions, including MMF, to highlight the importance of establishing protections for the threatened marine species in the region. We are grateful that the government has responded to the data and recommendations of scientists which has led to the formation of these new regulations.

MMF has been researching whale sharks and mobula rays in Mozambique for almost two decades. Our achievements have included the discovery that manta rays are two separate species and the first formal studies of these species in Africa. “The largest identified populations of both reef and giant manta rays in Africa have been identified off the southern Mozambican coastline, making it a critical region for their conservation in the Western Indian Ocean,” explains MMF Co-founder and Principal Scientist, Dr. Andrea Marshall.

MMF has also led groundbreaking research on whale sharks in the region. Our research into the importance of the whale shark habitat in the area and increasing human pressures, such as accidental catch in gillnets, which has halved their global population since the 1980s, helped to justify their inclusion in this new law.

“The Mozambican coast is an internationally important habitat for whale sharks, the world’s largest fish,” elaborates Dr. Simon Pierce, MMF Co-founder and Principal Scientist. “Protection in Mozambican waters provides a safeguard for the species locally, where whale sharks are the basis for sustainable marine ecotourism, but will also help these gentle giants to recover in the broader Indian Ocean. The Mozambique government has taken a commendable step for the worldwide conservation of this endangered species.”

Some of the most crucial and troubling data captured by MMF shows dramatic declines in observational sightings of marine megafauna like manta, mobula rays, and whale sharks. In 2013 we reported a 79% decline in whale shark sightings and an 88% decline in reef manta sightings, and sadly these trends continue. Our data now show declines of over 90% for giant mantas, reef mantas, and shortfin devil rays in the south of the country.

a manta rey got caught in a fishing net — © Dr. Andrea Marshall

“Evidence of these stark declines, which have been attributed in large part to localized fishing pressure, are a testament to the urgency of these protections which go into effect today,” states Dr. Marshall.

MMF researchers have estimated the economic importance of manta rays and other megafauna to the Mozambican tourism industry, highlighting the economic incentive for their protection. The study, lead-authored by Dr. Stephanie Venables a senior scientist at MMF, illustrated the economic impact of manta ray tourism in the Inhambane province, including $34 million USD per year of direct economic impact of manta ray tourism, and a projected yearly loss of $16-$25 million USD if Mozambique were to lose manta rays.

Healthy populations of megafauna are crucial for maintaining healthy oceans. Manta rays and whale sharks are listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN Red List with declining populations worldwide. Local conservation measures, like this law, are vital for the overall persistence of these species. Every organism plays an important role in an ecosystem, but ocean giants often play vital roles in maintaining balance and regulating resources in their environments. This in turn, naturally keeps fish populations healthy and improves the viability of fishing industries into the future.

In addition to the protection granted to mantas, mobulas, and whale sharks, the law also includes the following new regulations:

Fishers must land the full body of any sharks caught with fins attached
New clearer regulations for CCPs (community fishing councils)
A ban on destructive fishing practices on coral, seagrass, or mangroves
A ban on the harvesting of live coral
Bycatch must be thrown back unless you have prior written permission to use it for research
Turtle excluder devices are mandated on industrial and semi-industrial nets

While this law is a significant breakthrough, a number of other important species were not given protection. “This new protection is a huge step in the right direction and we’re thrilled that Mozambique is recognizing the importance of some of the species we study, but there are other rare and endangered species in Mozambique that still lack protection,” explains MMF Manta Research Manager, Anna Flam.

“We’re hoping to use the positive momentum from this new law, combined with our research, to lobby Mozambique to add protection for hammerhead sharks, smalleye stingrays, leopard sharks, and wedgefish, among other vulnerable species.”

MMF is currently working with other NGOs to submit a list of species that we believe must be added as an amendment to the new law.

The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) was created in 2009 to research, protect, and conserve the populations of threatened marine megafauna around the world. MMF’s headquarters are located in Tofo, Mozambique, where they operate as Associação Megafauna Marinha (AMM). ‘Megafauna’ are large marine species such as sharks, rays, and sea turtles. For further details, please see www.marinemegafaunafoundation.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Issue 70 - March 2021

SEVENSEAS Cleanup Trip at Bang Khun Thian March 14, 2021

We had been planning on this trip since January. At first, we were to take a trip to Samed Island for beach cleanup. Due to COVID-19, we had to cancel our plans from time to time. However this month, we decided to take a short trip to Bang Khun Thian for a small cleanup for SEVENSEAS.

When viewed on a map of the Bangkok special administrative area, the district of Bang Khun Thian looks like the hind legs of a leaping elephant. This flat and wet district extends from the southwest corner of the city for some 25 km, finally bumping into a four-km expanse of muddy seacoast threaded by numerous canals, seafood farms and what’s left of a once-sprawling mangrove swamp.

Anyways, we walked around the area before we decided to pick the location for our cleanup. We chose The Kham, the area, which is close to the bikeway where watery domain where houses sit up on stilts, many locals rely on boats to get around and high tide can deliver ankle-deep water several km inland. Nearly all of the coastal forest was cleared last century to make way for rectangular ponds used for farming fish and shrimp. Unfortunately, due to pollution, some of the aquaculture sites are no longer viable for seafood farming.

From afar, the area may look neat and clean but after our observation, we found out that there are many plastic bottles, snack containers, plastic bags, and glass bottles (some of them even have urine in them. Marks threw up once because he was surprised by those…), etc. We manage to pick up around 60 kilograms of all kinds of trash here. We tried to sort out what we had picked up, but unfortunately, there was not a single trash can or garbage area for us. We had to cross the street and walk to the market nearby for that.

We hoped that this COVID situation will get better soon so we could do more for our monthly cleanup events. Please support our work by making a DONATION for SEVENSEAS Media on The Ocean Foundation or join us in a future event, which we will keep you posted on our Facebook page and Weekly Newsletter.

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Issue 70 - March 2021

Whistleblower Advocates Launch GoFundMe Campaign for Fishrot Whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson

Poisoned whistleblower seeks medical treatment prior to testimony in corruption probe

On March 1, 2021, Whistleblowing International, ANA LOGO, and the U.S.-based Whistleblower Network News, National Whistleblower Center launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Fishrot whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson. Stefánsson is the former Director of Operations in Namibia for Icelandic fishing company Samherji. He worked with anti-corruption authorities and the media to expose a fishing rights bribery scheme in Namibia. Samherji CEO Thorsteinn Mar Baldvinsson is under investigation for allegedly approving bribes, estimated at $10 million, to Namibian politicians and companies to illegally obtain offshore fishing rights. Namibia’s justice and fisheries ministers resigned and were arrested on corruption charges, along with several other prominent Namibian figures. Last month, Namibian President Hage Geingob was linked to the scandal. Baldvinsson stepped aside but was later reinstated by Samherji. Multiple investigations are underway in several countries, and new revelations of criminality are still coming to light.

Since blowing the whistle, Stefánsson has faced severe retaliation. He not only lost his job but has also survived multiple attempts on his life and believes he has been poisoned. Set to return to Namibia to testify this April, Stefánsson says that he continues to pursue justice in the face of danger.

The whistleblower groups formed an international coalition to assist Stefánsson in his plight for justice and, more importantly, help him get immediately treated for poisoning. He has been unable to receive adequate poisoning treatment in Iceland and is financially unable to seek treatment internationally. Whistleblowers like Stefánsson are integral to rooting out corruption worldwide, and they need help doing it.

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Issue 70 - March 2021

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – March 2021 – Issue 70

2041 ClimateForce Antarctic Expedition Environmental Impact, Considerations, and Outcomes

a group photo of people on a ship in Antarctica

First, we appreciate when Expedition participants are keeping their environmental footprint in mind. And yes, this Expedition does have an impact. It will realistically be at least several decades until humans are able to travel to these remote regions with zero impact – the technology (especially as it pertains to transportation) is just not 100% clean yet, unfortunately. Read more…

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Students Invited to Enter Art Contest Focusing on “Seafarers: at the Core of Shipping’s Future”

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How Horseshoe Crabs have Survived for Eons in NY and NJ & Why They’re Vital to Human Health and Safety

With the worldwide race to develop and manufacture vaccines came a renewed interest in horseshoe crabs. The sea creatures, which are over 350 million years old and known as “living dinosaurs,” have been critical to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s how they have been surviving in the waters off of New York and New Jersey – and why they’re in danger. See The Video…

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Feature Destination: Take a Journey to Antarctica: 2041 ClimateForce Expedition

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Zanzibar Whip Coral Shrimp – Jack’s March Underwater Photograph

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What’s Happening to The Most Remote Coral Reefs on Earth?

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New Research Shows Noise Pollution is Hampering Communication of a Number of Different Species

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Research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found that man-made noise changes the signals of animals, hampering their communication with each other. The meta-analysis study found animals exposed to human-made noise had to adjust their acoustic signals when competing for mate attraction, to repel rivals, and parent-offspring communication, all of which have a crucial role in their survival. Read more…

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Why Journey on the 2041 ClimateForce Antarctic Expedition?

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The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

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