The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Central Office, together with the Manta Trust, conducted a Species Identification workshop specific to sharks and manta rays last December 9, 2015 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center in the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Two representatives, Minerva Fatimae H. Ventolero (Aquaculturist I) and Katreena P. Sarmiento (Science Research Analyst) from GFL-NFRDI attended te said training. Miss Ludivinda L. Labe, former Senior Aquaculturist of NFRDI and the current Officer-In-Charge of Aquatic Wildlife Regulations Section in BFAR Central Office acted as the core facilitator of the mentioned workshop. Among the speakers were Mr. Edwyn B. Alesna (Chief, FRQD Foreign Trade & Miscellaneous Permits Section) who talked about the Philippines International and Domestic Initiative for Sharks and Rays, Ms. Grace V. Lopez (Aquaculturist II, NFRDI) who talked about the Sharks and Rays of the Philippines in behalf of Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Ms. Shannon Arnold (Philippines Project Leader, The Manta Trust) who spoke more about Manta and Devil Ray fisheries, bycatch, and trade in the Philippines, Mr. Daniel Fernando (Associate Director, The Manta Trust) who talked about Global Status, Conservation, and Trade of Manta and Devil Rays, Ms. Debra Abercrombie (Representative, Stony Brook University) who elaborated on the CITES listed Sharks: Status, Conservation, and Trade, and Dr. Nilo Katada (Officer-In-Charge, BFAR Fisheries Law Enforcement and Quick Response Team) who enlightened the NSAP enumerators, BFAR Officers, and all the attendees with the Standard Operating Procedures: Fisheries Law Enforecement. Wholly, the training turned out to be a fun and interactive learning experience for everyone. Ms. Abercrombie handed out a simple and easy identification guide in identifying Oceanic Whitetip, Porbeagle, and Hammerheads. She also gave out her collection of fins for the attendees to actively participate and identify the species of the sharks. Mr. Fernando also gave out samples of gill plates from manta rays and mobulids and effectively communicated with the attendees to show how to determine which gill plates and obtained from manta rays and which are those from mobulids. This training was conducted primarily to help BFAR officers and NSAP enumerators to easily identify which species are illegally traded and CITES-listed. Specifically, manta rays are the ones specified to be prohibited for trading while mobulids are allowed as long as it is sustained. On the other hand, five threatened shark species (oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, and great hammerhead) were already included in the CITES list, therefore must be subjected to conservation and management measures.
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