印尼禁止蝠鲼捕捞和出口

Indonesia is the world's largest sanctuary for manta rays. The country says it now wants to ban the fishing and export of the creature within the archipelago's nearly six million square kilometers of ocean.

Authorities are concerned that the species could soon become extinct if fishing continues, and that the gentle giants are worth more alive than dead.

Tourists to Indonesia often pay generously to swim with manta rays. The creatures have long been killed and exported for use in some traditional medicine, with their gills fetching up to 500 U.S. dollars.