Few creatures command as much intrigue and fascination as the majestic rhino rays. With their distinctive appearance resembling a fusion of ancient armor and modern marvel, rhino rays are a group of 68 species comprising sawfishes (Pristidae), wedgefishes (Rhinidae), giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegidae), guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae), and banjo rays (Trygonorrhinidae). Belonging to the order Rhinopristiformes, they are a group teetering on the brink of peril.
“According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, over 70% of species assessed are considered threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable). Throughout their distribution, fisheries (target and bycatch) and habitat degradation are the primary threats to rhino rays,” the authors of a new study explain. “Life-history characteristics including slow growth, long life span, long gestation period, and low fecundity make rhino rays highly susceptible to overexploitation. Once depleted, some populations are likely to have a limited capacity to recover since some species have a low intrinsic rate of population increase.”
India is among the top three chondrichthyan (shark, ray, and chimaera) fishing nations globally. This fishing, whether intentional or incidental, is primarily motivated by the global demand for rhino ray fins, the local appetite for their premium-quality meat, and the emerging market for their skins and snouts. India is also a hotspot for rhino ray species richness, with reports on the occurrence of 15 species from four families. Thus, research and conservation efforts targeted at rhino rays here hold significant importance, given the heightened global threat these species face, particularly within the western Indian Ocean region. And recent efforts led by scientist Divya Karnad has cast a light upon the status, utilization, and urgent need for conservation of these enigmatic creatures across five major fishing hubs in India: Porbandar, Mumbai, Chennai, Ganjam, and Digha.
Venturing into the heart of these communities on the coastline, the researchers focused on the voices of those intimately connected to the sea – the fishers. Through 161 interviews, a narrative emerged: once abundant, they were now relegated as mere bycatch, with a staggering 99.3% of respondents acknowledging their incidental capture. The toll of human activity on these gentle giants is starkly evident, with fishers saying catch declines of up to a harrowing 95% have been witnessed within the span of a single decade. “Unsustainable fishing across a range of fishing gears (trawl, gillnet, and purse seine) was noted as the main reason for the decline in rhino rays,” the authors said. “Considering the high value of wedgefish and giant guitarfish fins in shark-fin-consuming countries, it would be surprising if rhino rays were not targeted for their fins in India, where there have been targeted shark fisheries in the past and where the trade in shark fins has been prominent.”
The 2015 prohibition on export of shark fins of all species of sharks issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has resulted in traders observing a consistent decline in the demand for shark fins. But while these regulations may have somewhat diminished demand, there is mounting accounts of illicit trade and an underground market for rhino ray fins. Recent discoveries of fin stockpiling, coupled with seizures at ports, underscore the incomplete effectiveness of the ban in halting the trafficking of shark or rhino ray fins.
The marine product supply chains in India are known for their lack of transparency, with fishers typically not actively engaging in trade; rhino rays are typically caught and brought ashore by fishers, who then sell them directly to local processors, traders, or marketers. “Furthermore, as fisheries expand in India, it appears that fishers are increasingly on the sidelines of the trade aspects. Considering that the trade in rhino ray products has been one of the drivers in their exploitation, additional research into trade aspects is warranted to gain an understanding of derived products, their value, and trade routes,” the authors explain.
However, the fate of most rhino rays was not the fin trade. Their primary use, as gleaned from 71% of interviews, lies in local consumption, with fresh meat reigning supreme on dining tables. Larger individuals (those exceeding a meter in total length) found themselves either in the fin trade or were utilized to sate local appetites whereas small-bodied counterparts were deemed inconsequential, and either discarded or dismissed as ‘trash fish.’
In contrast to previous indications of interest in live release for rhino rays along the west coast of India, only a minority of respondents in the study seem to advocate for conservation actions for these species. Alarmingly, 78% of respondents demonstrate attitudes focused on utilitarianism rather than conservation, highlighting a concerning trend. “The cultural association that live rhino rays are an indicator for concentrations of commercially important species in Digha and Ganjam could be a useful starting point for conservation-oriented communication and awareness programmes in these areas,” the team asserts. “The addition of rhino ray species into the new amendment of the [Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA)] is an important step towards effective conservation, and perhaps this will aid in rhino ray conservation in India. However, additional steps to implement protection of these species are critical if they are to make a difference.”
The message is clear: immediate actions are needed to secure the long-term survival and sustainability of rhino ray fisheries in India.
