In Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, there appears to be an annual contest that involves the killing of numerous Cow Nose Stingrays as a form of sport for cash, prizes and other forms of honor or recognition. Read http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/maryland-dnr-ban-annual-stingray-massacre/?utm_campaign=031816%20PETA%20E-News&utm_source=PETA%20E-Mail&utm_medium=E-News. According to the documents and reports, the sport attempts to prevent the young from fleeing from their mothers by wounding them. The other victims are shot in competition to determine who catches the largest and heaviest animals for rewards.
After the slaughter of these amazing animals, their bodies are typically dumped back into Chesapeake Bay. Investigations and research into these stingray killings show that some believe the animals are a threat to oyster farms, which seems to be false. Oysters are not a key food source for the Cow Nose Stingrays. These animals have slow growth and long pregnancies, giving birth to one pup. As such, these mass killings would eventually lead to the endangered status of these animals.
The efforts in this petition is to urge the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to regulate the killing of the stingrays by placing a moratorium on these contests for killing and prohibit any future events. You can help me to take action on this crucial issue by signing and sharing this petition, adding your own thoughts and comments to be a voice for these stingrays.
Mark J. Belton, Secretary of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Natural Resources – There is currently an event that makes it admissible to kill the Cow Nose Stingrays in the Chesapeake Bay. After the slaughter of these amazing animals, their bodies are typically dumped back into Chesapeake Bay. Investigations and research into these stingray killings show that some believe the animals are a threat to oyster farms, which seems to be false. Oysters are not a key food source for the Cow Nose Stingrays. These animals have slow growth and long pregnancies, giving birth to one pup. As such, these mass killings would eventually lead to the endangered status of these animals. I strongly urge you to regulate the killing of the stingrays by placing a moratorium on these contests for killing and prohibit any future events. Stop the massacre of these stingrays.
