Almost 100 kilos of manta ray seized in Macaneta, southern Mozambique

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Almost 100 kilos of manta ray seized in Macaneta, southern Mozambique

1:34 CAT | 03 Aug 2020

Photo: O País

Almost 100 kilos of manta ray flesh were seized by the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries in Macaneta, Maputo province, on Friday, O País reports.

It starts with the question: how much did you fish? And ends with the answer: “Almost 100 kilos”. The price of sale was reportedly “next to nothing”, at least to the customer in whose possession the ray was found – curiously, another fisherman.

The ministry’s inspection coordinator for Maputo province, José Cuna, says that the buyer paid only 1,500 meticais for the 14 pieces seized.

In fact, the market price of manta ray is unknown. What is known is that it is a protected species on the verge of extinction. Perhaps for this reason, the young fisherman allegedly responsible for the catch has since disappeared.

Cuna says that the 98 kilos of fish was being prepared for sale, but that the perpetrators “retreated” when they realised that their operation had been busted.

The buyer, who is also the catcher’s neighbour, is reportedly one of the few who still buys manta ray, and the seizure is the first registered this year.

Unlike other seized products, which are often distributed to charities, the ray meat will be sold on Monday and the money returned to the state coffers.

By Cornélio Mwitu

Source: O País