First International Symposium on Mantas and Mobulids to be held in 2008 at the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) meeting in Montréal, Canada.

Manta rays are threatened though much of their range where they are either captured as bycatch or targeted in regional fisheries. Given their very low reproductive rates and generally small population sizes mantas are even more vulnerable than most other sharks and rays to over exploitation. Shark and ray populations through out the world’s oceans have shown dramatic population declines in the face of over-fishing. A second factor that places the mantas at risk is the lack of biological data for this species. There is almost no published data detailing population structure, social dynamics, reproductive rates, growth rates, or age at first reproduction. Without this information predicting the impact of fisheries and developing appropriate management plans is practically impossible. The population of resident manta rays in the lagoon at Bora Bora provides an extraordinary opportunity to collect critical data on the basic biology of manta rays. While this is not the only location where manta rays have been observed year around, it provides the ideal natural laboratory. The lagoon’s relatively small size and the presence of only one exit to the ocean simplify observations and monitoring of individuals. In addition, there is already a photo ID program established and considerable background information has been collected on a number of individuals. It will be possible to build on existing efforts and quantify a number of basic biological parameters. While providing an excellent opportunity to study manta rays, the work in Bora Bora is also critical to their protection. Bora Bora is a popular tourist destination with a considerable amount of manta-based ecotourism. The majority of visitors to Bora Bora now swim with the mantas and the number of people in the water is likely to increase with the current plan to construct two additional hotels close to the site where manta rays are most frequently observed (Anau). To ensure the long-term health of the Bora Bora mantas we must act quickly. We need to gather baseline data, and then assess any threats from increased boat activity and divers, as well as potential changes to the local habitat. Once we have characterized both the mantas habitat requirements and potential threats to their well-being, protective measures will be recommended. These may include establishment of a marine protected area (MPA), time area closures, manta-friendly guidelines for divers and snorkelers, and active management of tourist activities. While our initial efforts will be centered on Bora Bora, we will begin to develop links to other areas in French Polynesia where mantas occur, focusing initially on dive centers. We will establish an information network where local findings and methods, including photo ID, can be shared regionally. This will serve to develop an information database on the patterns of manta occurrence around French Polynesia and apparent threats in other regions. This information network will benefit both the local and regional populations and will help to determine if there are links between groups. BACKGROUND Manta rays (Order Myliobatidae, family Mobulinae) are found in tropical and subtropical waters (Bigelows and Schroeders 1953, Last and Stevens 1994). They are characterized by cephalic lobes that unfurl to funnel water and plankton into their large mouth. Similar to the largest whales and sharks, the bulk of their diet is plankton. Their pectoral fins are expanded laterally into wing-like fins that create the appearance of the mantas flying through the water. Within the family there are two genera, Manta (one species) and Mobula (9 species)(Mc Eachran 1996). In Bora Bora we will focus on M. birostris, the largest member of the group, reaching a maximum “wing” span of 6.7m and a weight of 1400 kg. Most of the mantas seen in Bora Bora are considerably smaller, with an approximate wing span of 3.5m maximum. Larger animals have, however, been reported in the past. Mantas are one of the few large elasmobranches (sharks and rays) that man can approach without fear. In spite of this and their frequent observation in near-shore environments, there is surprisingly little published information on the basic biology of the species. Growth rates, time of gestation, age at sexual maturity and the rate of reproduction are not well understood. Other than the basic characterization of mantas as filter feeders, we know little about their habitat requirements or actual prey composition. While scientists recognize only one species of Manta globally, there is no information on population structure in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, or on the level of connectivity among different regions. Some of the best information collected on manta ray occurrence and residence times originates from divers and snorkelers around the globe who have established their own research programs. From these studies we know that in some regions mantas are resident and the same individuals are observed year round (Yap, Bora Bora, Hawaii, and Indonesia), whereas in other places (Australia, Mexico, Ecuador, and South of Japan) their presence is seasonal and the mantas are migratory, although we have no information on where they go once they leave these sites. These programs have also provided some of the best biological information. For example the efforts in Bora Bora provide the only estimates of age at first reproduction, growth rates and gestation periods. Unfortunately, most of the information from photo ID programs around the globe remains unpublished, and many studies have not been conducted in a scientifically rigorous fashion. The lack of basic information on mantas makes conservation and management almost impossible and places global manta populations at great risk. Among the greatest threats are targeted fisheries which occur in Indonesia, the Philippines and Mexico. These have the potential to wipe out local populations. Other threats include bycatch in purse seine fisheries, drift nets and long-line fisheries through out the oceans. While additional threats to both resident and migratory populations exist, these have been more difficult to identify partially due to the lack of understanding of basic habitat requirements and population structure. While mantas have existed in the waters around Bora Bora since before written history, there is cause for concern that recent activities are posing risks to their populations. The number of mantas observed by divers has declined in the past decade and one known cleaning station has been nearly abandoned. While the mantas in Bora Bora are not threatened by fisheries there are other threats to their well-being. The small size and limited access to the lagoon in Bora Bora places the mantas at greater risk. There are fewer areas that can act as alternative feeding or cleaning sites if key sites are destroyed or made less desirable. Also, all available sites are more susceptible to degradation by human activity such as sedimentation or pollution. The reduction in numbers may be explained by the increased development and tourist activity in Bora Bora: 1) Over the last ten years the number of hotels has increased; not only on the main island, but now some are built on the motus (islets) on the island periphery. This has both the potential to change the habitat through changes in water quality, flow patterns, and/or sedimentation as well as through associated damage to the reef system.

2) The number of divers and snorkelers in the water interacting with mantas has increased dramatically. There is evidence that mantas left areas after being disturbed by divers in Kona, Hawaii. In Bora Bora, during July and August of 2004 the site at Anau was full of divers, snorkelers and sailboats from dawn to dusk (S. Walker pers com.). There are currently no guidelines for interacting with mantas, and divers and snorkelers have been observed rushing at the mantas, driving them from their cleaning station. This may be even more stressful for non-resident manta rays which are less accustomed to human presence. A few inauspicious experiences may prevent an animal from returning. 3) As a result of this increased interest in the mantas, the amount of boat traffic has increased dramatically, including high-speed boats that pass over important manta cleaning grounds. Observations of wounded mantas indicate that they are being hit by boat propellers. The expansion of human and boating activity in the areas near and around the mantas’ favorite sites is not likely to slow down. The need in Bora Bora is real to both characterize the threats to the local manta ray populations and to manage human activities. The goal of this proposal is to build on the existing photo ID program and ongoing observations of individuals in the lagoon to obtain the information necessary to better understand and protect the local and global manta populations. Efforts will be carried out under the newly developed “Manta Polynesia Research and Protection" (MPRP) with the help of Drs. Heidi Dewar and Ellen Freund acting as the scientific consultants. The project will follow multiple lines of exploration including habitat characterization, collection of basic biological data, quantification of risks to local mantas and ultimately application of data collected to their management and protection. Manta Rays in Bora Bora: Manta rays have been a part of the ecosystem in Bora Bora since before recorded history. Most activity has been observed in the lagoon at three different sites including Toopua, in The Pass, and at Anau. Toopua has been almost deserted by manta rays since the construction of the Sheraton hotel (2002-2003). In The Pass, it is primarily young mantas that are observed. The third site, Anau, is the most popular manta site. We will focus our initial attention at all three sites, spending the most time at Anau. Manta ray sightings are relatively predictable at Anau, thus this location is the focus of many tourist activities. Manta rays may frequent this site for a number of reasons. Anau is near the main Island that shelters it from the lagoon’s opening, this may reduce its exposure to large ocean predators. Anau has a shallow zone (4 to 8m), and a coral drop-off from 11 to 25m. Up to the beginning of the drop-off, there is a large sandy zone up to 40m deep. Here, large numbers of mantas are regularly observed and it is possible to photograph and follow the progress of individuals as they reproduce, give birth and grow. In fact, most observations to date in Bora Bora have been made at this site. Anau also serves as a likely mating ground, although only pre-mating dances have been observed by divers. In addition to being an important area for mating, Anau is a giant cleaning station where many cleaner fish are found over a range of depths. During the cleaning phases the mantas move very slowly back and forth over the station to attract the cleaner fish. The cleaning sessions can last more than one hour and seem to be critical to the good health of the manta. During this time they are very easily approached and easily disturbed. While cleaning sites have been identified, there is less information on where the mantas are feeding. Some mantas are known to come into hotel lights at night to feed on the aggregations of prey drawn to the lights, but this is not natural behavior. Through previously established efforts, it has been possible to identify individuals and monitor their progress and activity over the course of years. Since August 2002, 35 females and 31 males have been clearly identified, all at Anau. Some of these, however, have been seen only once and thus appear not to be residents. These visitors may be residents of other sites in the areas that are not regularly surveyed or are possibly migratory. While observations in the lagoon have been going on for 20 years, because the data were obtained over relatively limited temporal and spatial scales, it is difficult to evaluate any population trends. However, most people familiar with these mantas indicate that the population has declined. Previously, mantas were observed everyday at Anau, whereas in recent years it is not rare that the site is deserted for some weeks, or even longer. CONCLUSIONS: Bora Bora's lagoon and all of French Polynesia represent an exceptional natural laboratory that provides the opportunity to study manta rays. We can build on the existing expertise and data that have already been collected and can collect critical information on the movements and migrations, reproductive biology, social structure and habitat requirements of manta rays. Very little information on the basic biology of mantas rays exists in the scientific literature hampering conservation and management efforts on a global scale. From a local perspective, the manta rays in the Bora Bora’s lagoon are experiencing increasing pressure from human activity and additional information is necessary to develop protective measures. By working with local businesses and officials will work to establish a MPA at Anau. This MPA will act as a model for other regions facing similar problems. To take the current efforts to the level required to systematically collect biological data and to identify and mitigate threats requires a dedicated, focused effort. The full-time efforts of Moeava de Rosemont and Benjamin Galtier will allow us to expand observations in time and space both around Bora Bora and to neighboring islands starting with Maupiti and the Tuamotu Archipelago. It will also allow for the development of multimedia educational materials for local officials, the tourists industry and local school children. The research conducted here and the associated educational programs are critical to the long-term health of the mantas in Bora Bora and around the globe.

This article was excerpted from a proposal for manta research written by Moeava de Rosemont and Benjamin Galtier with contributions by Dr. Heidi Dewar.

A story about saving the mantas. More copy to follow.

Save-the-Mantas.org is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Manta birostris worldwide.

Fishing of Manta birostris generally occurs as accidental catches or taken in small numbers for food by remote fishing villages. This situation now appears to be changing rapidly as demand increases for the manta's skin and gills. The increased market permits fishermen to better equip themselves with advanced fishing methods.

May 2002, WWF Indonesia sponsored an exploratory trip to the Alor region of Eastern Indonesia to survey local resources and identify critical management issues. As part of the team, Heidi Dewar, Ph.D., Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, reported that manta rays along with other rays were being taken using modern fishing methods instead of their traditional village methods. Dr. Dewar found that "while the fishing practices and subsistence economy have remained relatively unchanged in Lamalera, both have changed dramatically in Lamakera over the last few years. Here, the local people have shifted away from the traditional whale harvest and now focus primarily on manta rays."

Read the full text of Dr. Dewar's "Preliminary Report: Manta Harvest in Lamakera"

The environmental, economic and political issues in the Philippines and Indonesia are complex. Save-the-Mantas.org is trying to unravel situations that affect mantas.

February 18, 2004, Manta Pacific Research Foundation is proposing a rule to protect mantas from being killed or extracted along the Kona Coast of Hawaii. Foundation board members and supporters met with the West Hawaii Fisheries Council Dec. 18, 2003 to request protective status for the manta rays in Hawaiian waters. Tim Clark, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hawaii and Manta Pacific's Scientific Advisor, gave a presentation to council members on the impact of manta fisheries in Mexico, Indonesia, and the Philippines and reported on findings from his year-long tracking study of the Kona population.

In other areas in the world, fisheries for mantas have traditionally been for consumption of the meat, either fresh or dried. However, a market has recently developed in China for dried gill rakers. The gill rakers are ground to a powder and used in traditional medicines. This market has lead to an increase in the Indonesia fishery and threatens several large manta populations in Indonesia (Dewar, 2002). Although there is no immediate fishing threat to the mantas in Hawaii, Manta Pacific Research Foundation is taking a pro-active role in implementing a No Kill, No Extraction ruling for West Hawaii. Clark informed council members that if mantas were exploited for fisheries or extracted in any way, the local Hawaiian population would easily be driven to extinction due to their low reproductive rate and limited dispersal. Sighting data supplied by Keller Laros, co-founder of Manta Pacific Research Foundation, suggests that the Kona population is relatively small; about 40 mantas re-sighted on a yearly basis, and only 85 mantas identified over the last 12 years of research. Clark reported that manta rays probably reach an age of 10-15 years before they are able to reproduce and may give birth to one pup every 2-3 years. However, Laros added that he has only sighted one pregnant female in the data he has collected in 12 years on the Kona coast, and that the Kona mantas may not have the same reproductive rate as other populations. Clark's tracking data suggests that the local population is a closed population, with no migration into or out of the Kona Coast. Fishing for mantas in Kona would decimate the local population. Laros commented, "We would lose something very special and would most likely not get the mantas back in our lifetime."

Manta Pacific Research Foundation conducted a survey of dive operators on the Kona Coast to determine the economic value of mantas in Kona. The Foundation hopes to show the manta fishing industry in other areas of the world that a live manta is worth more than a dead one. A manta population can support and sustain an eco-tourism industry worth millions annually, while a manta fishery creates a lesser revenue and can lead to the extinction of local populations. Based on spending trends of tourists in Hawaii, over $2.5 million in revenues were generated on the big island of Hawaii in 2002 from manta eco-tourism. In contrast, a single manta in Indonesia sells for approximately $160 for the meat, skin, and gill rakers (Dewar, 2002). Clark pointed out that eco-tourism generates far more income for a local population compared with the income earned from a fished manta ray. Manta Pacific Research Foundation's mission is to study manta rays in their natural habitat and conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and establish and promote manta ray conservation. Manta Pacific Research Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, go to: www.mantapacific.org. Support Manta Pacific's Hawaii Protection Initiative Manta Pacific Research Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, education, and conservation of manta rays. Please join with us in support of their special effort to make it illegal to kill, capture, or intentionally injure manta rays in Hawaiian waters. Show your support of manta ray conservation by signing their petition on-line. [ Click for Petition].

Do we really need a wallet made from manta rays?

Tim Clark, a manta biologist at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, has observed that the Indonesia fishery that has historically been catching around 175 Manta birostris per year, may now be taking as many as 2,000 mantas. The increase in catch is supposedly due to a new fad -- manta-skin wallets.

In 1998, it was reported that unregulated whale shark and manta ray fisheries were decimating whole populations of these large filter feeders in the Visayas, and throughout the Philippines. In response, BFAR, the management authority of manta rays in the Philippines, imposed a nationwide ban on the hunting of manta rays and whale sharks. Four years later, without sufficient public consultation, without new scientific evidence from experts as basis for a sustainable management system, but simply due to misguided political pressure, BFAR may be forced to lift this ban. "Today, all the large marine creatures in the Philippines, without exception, are under threat," says Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, President of WWF Philippines. Read "The Manta Menace" by Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, January 2002 and "Manta Ray Ban Ignored in Bohol" by Troy Bernardo, March 2002. The environmental, economic and political issues in the Philippines and Indonesia are complex. Save-the-Mantas.org is trying to unravel situations that affect mantas. If you have any information or insight into these or other situations, please contact Robert Aston, Save-the-Mantas.org.

Save-the-mantas.org's mission is to provide information and eco-alerts about Manta birostris worldwide. If you would like to be kept appraised of manta protection, conservation and other manta situations worldwide. The Manta Network is undertaking fund raising to assist manta researchers. We welcome your support and any suggestions to make this a more valuable program. Contact Robert Aston. WE URGENTLY NEED AN UPDATE ON THIS SITUATION Please contact Robert Aston if you have any recent information or knows someone that does.