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Abstract
Manta rays is an endangered species and included in Appendix II of CITES and also
included in the IUCN Red List categories of Vulnerable. Manta Genus divided into two
species, namely Manta Alfredii (manta that live in shallow water/ coral reef) and Manta
birostris (manta that live in the ocean/ oceanic) were very similar at a glance. Conservation
manta rays must involve cooperation among countries, because of their migratory cycle is
already cross country waters. Every country where became distribution and migration places
of Manta Rays should make a special rules for preserve the population. Knowing the location
of the distribution and migration of Manta Rays, the strategic conservation area can be
determined and will become one of the alternatives in this issue. Regulations are also needed
to assist and achieve the goal of a conservation area.
Key words : Manta alfredii, Manta birostris, distribution, migration, conservation
I.
INTRODUCTION
Manta rays (Manta sp.) are amongst the largest filter-feeding elasmobranch fishes and
have a circumglobal distribution through tropical and temperate coastal waters, offshore
islands and seamounts (Marshall et al, 2009).Manta with taxonomic name Birostris and
Alfredi are species that belong in the category of vulnerable (IUCN, 2015). The emergence of
a manta ray influenced by many factors, such as; water temperature (Dewar et al., 2008), the
fertility waters affected by season (Luiz et al., 2009), tidal influenced by phases of the moon,
and even human activities such as fisheries and marine tourism.
The giant manta ray (Manta birostris) is a monogeneric species in the Family
Mobulidae that consists of the devil rays. The giant manta is the largest of all rays reaching a
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disc width of up to 6.7 m and 1,400 kg weight (Last and Stevens 1994). Manta rays M.
alfrediare a conspicuous and charismatic component of tropical marine ecosystems. They are
fished throughout much of their range (Notobartolo-di-Sciara and Hillyer, 1989; Homma et
al., 1999; White et al., 2006). Several local populations have been particularly heavily
exploited (Camhi et al., 1998; Ishihara, 2005). A lot of previous research talk about manta
rays, the aim is to determine the distribution pattern, the pattern of life and its impact on
tourism.
II.
2.1.
DISCUSSION
Conservation Problems
Issues about the manta rays, which is still a lot happening is trading practices gills for
export to China. It certainly has threatened the population of manta rays in Indonesia,
compounded by a low reproduction rate further reduce the population. In 2014 KKP issue a
ministerial decree No. 04 of 2014 concerning the protection status of the reef manta rays
(manta Alfredi) and oceanic manta (Manta birostris). Determination of these regulations
based on several considerations such as:
1. The population is threatened because of arrests carried out by fishermen to take
their gills.
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2. The species which consists of only two species that Alfredi and manta manta
birostris.
3. The level of low reproduction that can only have children at the age of 10 years, the
birth rate of approximately 1 fish per 5 years and in one litter produces only 1-2
tail only.
4. Manta rays are fish species that migrate between countries and some countries have
established a manta ray as a protected fish.
5. Have many enormous potential as a maritime tourist attraction.
Many methods are used to determine the conservation area for manta ray, Effective
establishment of marine protected areas for the conservation of species of concern depends
on a robust understanding of their spatio-temporal distribution. Models of the spatio-temporal
distribution of marine mega vertebrates may enable both site- based conservation, such as the
design and siting of marine protected areas, and the forecasting of climate change effects that
may inform future mitigation measures.
Manta Ray Conservation Index
Manta Rays Endangered
Source : http://www.mantaray-world.com/
a)
b)
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there is already a ban on the export destination countries and can achieve the purpose of
protection manta ray to the body parts.
2.2.
Threats
Manta ray fishing is major responsible for manta ray threat. In variety of fishing
method that exist, currently people can capture manta ray with many type of fishing gear such
as harpoon, net and trawl. Very easily methods to catching manta ray with fishing gear who
existed, while basically manta ray have large body and slow movement.
Manta ray have a high price in international fish market. Gill rakers from manta ray
body are particularly sought after and used in Asian medicinal products. Illegal fishing which
is currently targeting manta ray, it drive to unsustainable number of manta ray exploitation.
More than, 1000 manta rays are caught by illegal fishing with manta ray as a target in
some areas (Alava et al. 2002, Dewar 2002, White et al. 2006, Anderson et al. 2010).
Artisanal fisheries also target these species for food and local products (White et al. 2006,
Marshall et al. 2011). Aside from illegal fishing of Manta ray, in other case at large scale
fisheries activity and small netting program such as shark control bather protection nets are
also a threats for these fish as an incidentally caught or by-catch.
Besides manta ray sold as a fresh meat, medicine from those liver, and filter plates
taken of their gill rakers, Manta and Mobula spp are entering international trade and have
high prices in Asia where they are important to use in traditional Chinese medicine. In
Mexico, manta ray meat often used for attractant or bait to catching shark. Leather products
of manta ray have been verified. Furthermore, exploitation of manta ray as aquarium fish in
display tank can be found in many aquarium tanks, for example in the Georgia Aquarium, the
Atlantis Resort in Bahamas, and the Lisbon Aquarium.
2.3.
across 6 continent and numerous island nations, specifically occurring at approximately 200
different dive site which also called manta point (Figure 2). Counted in the 23 countries,
author estimated that over 1 million manta ray dives sites and snorkel sites per year. From the
internet research and surveys, author identified 386 operators that take divers and snorkelers
to manta point around countries, the websites study showed 319 of these operators (82.6 %),
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and sent surveys to 244 (63.2%). Ninety-four of the surveys were completed and returned (39
% response rate). To providing data addition on their operations, the dive operators who
responded in frequently are important by reporting additional operators who we had not
found through web research and filling in gaps data for necessary (OMalley et al, 2013).
Figure 3. Global Distribution and Direct Economic Impact (DEI) of manta watching tourism.
Source: OMalley et al (2013).
2. Another alternative.
In applying a policy nature of conservation or ban the use of a particular species it
must be offset by other alternatives that do not turn off the role of a fisherman. For
example the utilization of manta rays in Larantuka and Tanjung Luar are taken the gills
to be exported to China and Taiwan have a high value. If this is prohibited, then the
emergence of a new polemic is inevitable between the society and government so that the
government should be able to provide other alternatives that can be utilized by
fishermen.
Although currently manta ray not included in the economically important fish, but
catching uncontrolled also worth noting. Manta rays is one including the fish species in
Appendix II CITES listing and also included in the IUCN red list by category Vulnerable
(Vulnerable). This will make it one fish species should receive the full attention of the
government. So far the government only focused on fish that are included in the
economically important fish so that the fish coming from outside the less economically
important to get attention. The government should be able to see the potential of a
species not only in economic terms alone, but other potential such as tourism, for the
purposes of research and the use of biotechnology.
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