Manta Ray of Hope
Racing to Save Manta Rays
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
2
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
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
4
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
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
6
Time is running out
We must act now!
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
8
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
9
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
10
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
11
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
12
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
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
13
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
14
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 gillraker consumption on
ray populations
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
15
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)
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
16
Campaigns: Range states
• Establish sanctuaries and trade bans
– Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Peru
• Community Education
• Economic Alternatives  Eco-tourism
• Enforcement
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
17
How can you help?
•
•
•
•
Donate to Manta Ray of Hope
Fundraise
Spread the word
Support manta ray ecotourism!
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
18
Many Thanks
• Silvercrest Foundation, Hrothgar
Investments, private donors
• Shark Savers
• WildAid
• Scientific advisors and contributors
• Dive operators
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
WildAid
19
Thank you for your time!
© 2011 Manta Ray of Hope
20