March 9, 2012
A pair of manta ray leather boots? No Thanks!
Oceana campaigns on a permanent basis to prevent overfishing of sharks, mainly caught for their meat and fins. Products ranging from football boots, notebook covers, dietary supplements, beauty products and liver oil among others are obtained form shark by-products.
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones in the family with problems: rays, their close relatives, are also a target for the fishing industry. Manta rays are among these vulnerable species, but that does not stop some humans: their leather is used to manufacture boots and wallets that can be easily bought in stores or online. These giants of the seas have been included in Oceana’s list of threatened species that need protection.
It is our responsibility as consumers to avoid buying products made possible by further endangering sea creatures: if they can’t be sold, they won’t be made.