Manta Ray of HopeRacing to Save Manta Rays

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Manta and Mobula Rays

• Slow reproduction highly vulnerable– Mature 10 to 20 years; 1 pup every 1 to 5 years

• Social and intelligent – large brains• Two identified species of manta ray– Birostris (Oceanic) & Alfredi (Reef)

• 9 known species of mobula rays• Filter feeders• Global distribution• Aggregations easily targeted

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope

Fisheries: Hunted for their gills

• TARGETED: Subsistence, local fisheries commercial export operations

• BYCATCH: Global problem – net, trawl, longline

• Gill raker trade – primary driver for fisheries• Targeted fisheries have declined or collapsed

Fisheries

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Demand: Gill Raker Trade

• Marketed as a health tonic in Asia• One small part of the ray is valuable• Exploited by shark fin trade networks• Largely undocumented and unregulated• Increased demand -> decreasing supply->

driving up prices

Demand

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Awareness: Critical to escalate

• Largely ignored by policy makers• General public unaware of exploitation of manta

and mobula rays• Consumers not aware gill rakers come from manta

and mobula rays• Even most researchers and conservation groups

don’t realize the scale of the trade and its impacts

Awareness

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Protection: Lacking

• No international protection– FAO IPOA – Sharks: Limited implementation– CITES: Insufficient data has stalled proposals– CMS: Ecuador proposed Manta birostris

• Few regional or national laws in place• No laws regulating trade in consumer markets.

Protection

Time is running out

We must act now!

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Manta Ray of Hope: History

• 2002: Dewar documents new, growing fishery in Lamakera, Indonesia

• 2009: Manta Ray of Hope team preliminary investigations

• 2011: Manta Ray of Hope project launches– Top notch team and advisors– Comprehensive 3 phase campaign

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Manta Ray of Hope Project

Goals:• Secure legal protections for mantas and mobulas• Education, alternatives to ensure effectiveness

Components:• In depth investigation -> comprehensive report &

compelling media• Use to drive protection campaigns– Consumption and trade– Range state protections

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Findings: Fisheries

• Documented global landings of mobulids– Mantas ~3,900– Mobulas ~91,000– Lack of reporting - may be much higher

• Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Peru - largest

• Collapsing populations

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Findings: Markets

• Guangzhou, China – up to 99% of the market• Annual gill raker trade volume ~ 38,000 kg to

80,000 kg • Estimated value ~ US$ 7 to 14.7 million /yr• Rising costs and scarce supply• Manta birostris gills - up to US$ 500/kg

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Findings: Consumption

• Old folk remedy, had mostly disappeared• New demand created playing off disease

outbreaks like SARS• Not steeped in tradition or ‘prestigious’• Not popular with young

generation• Name “fish gills” • No association to mantas

and mobulas

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Findings: Medicinal claims

• Sellers make a range of medicinal claims• Gill raker remedy “Peng Yu Sai” NOT listed in

official Traditional Chinese Medicine reference • No evidence of effectiveness• TCM practitioners:– No TCM references– Many alternatives

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Findings: Eco-tourism

• A sustainable economic alternative• Survey – mantas #1 or 2 attraction for divers• Tourism revenue from just 7 locations:

~ US$ 50 million per year• “Million dollar manta”

Estimated lifetime value:– Yap: US$ 1.8 million– Kona, Hawaii: US$ 1

million

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope

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Campaigns: Consumption and Trade

• Seek trade bans– China, the #1 priority– Hong Kong and Singapore

• Consumer education – making the connection– Consumers need to understand impact of gill-raker

consumption on ray populations

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope

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Campaigns: International Laws

• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)

• Shark Fin trade legislation• Regional Fishery Management Organizations• Convention on the International Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES)

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Campaigns: Range states

• Establish sanctuaries and trade bans– Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Peru

• Community Education• Economic Alternatives Eco-tourism• Enforcement

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How can you help?

• Donate to Manta Ray of Hope• Fundraise• Spread the word• Support manta ray ecotourism!

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope

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Many Thanks

• Silvercrest Foundation, Hrothgar Investments, private donors

• Shark Savers• WildAid• Scientific advisors and contributors• Dive operators

WildAid

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope

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Thank you for your time!

© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope