Twelve more threatened marine animals have been included on the national list of protected species, a move hailed by a leading fishery expert as a victory for people who began pushing for their inclusion three years ago.
Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, yesterday revealed on his Facebook that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had included the 12 marine species on its list.
They are were the bentfin devil ray (Mobula thurstoni), the shortfin devil ray (Mobula khulii), longhorned pygmy devil ray (Mobula eregoodootenkee), the spinetail devil ray (Mobula japanica), the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) and the giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris).
Also included on the list were the giant freshwater stingray (Himantura chaophraya), the bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma), the Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron), the knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and the Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis).
The announcement was dated Jun 12 and signed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat, said Mr Thon.
According to the announcement, the minister exercised his authority under the 1992 Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act to declare the inclusion of the 12 marine species on the protected list.
The are placed 15th to 26th on the list, said the announcement.
They officially become protected species 60 days after the announcement appears in the Royal Gazette, said Mr Thon.
Anyone who owns any of these creatures are now advised to contact the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for advice on what information is required about the creatures in their possession, he said.
Mr Thon said he is now looking forward to seeing the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei), the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) included onto the protected list in a future government announcement.
