population crashes have already been documented in the Gulf of Mexico and Indonesia, where boom and bust fisheries for these species have occurred in recent decades.
Sustainable solutions The mantas’ giant size, inquisitive and peaceful nature and their propensity to frequent tropical shallow reefs has facilitated a burgeoning tourism industry in many nations around the world where enthralled divers and snorkellers seek out the thrill of an underwater encounter with these fascinating creatures. Globally it is estimated that this tourism industry generates US$140 million annually, with the Maldives’ manta ray tourism industry alone generating more than US$8 million annually through direct revenue from manta dive and snorkel excursions. Unfortunately, in today’s commercial and increasingly crowded world a country’s marine resources must pay their way. It is just not realistic to expect governments or communities to protect a species and its habitat for its intrinsic or ecological value alone. There must be a short-term financially viable alternative to incentivise a move away from destructive and unsustainable
practices, regardless of the long-term ecological and economical losses of such practices. By looking at the Maldives as an example we can see that while tourism does bring with it its own set of new problems, these are vastly more acceptable alternatives to the current rapid depletion of the country’s marine resources through direct fisheries.
The future
OPPOSITE AND ABOVE Divers and snorkellers flock to manta ray cleaning and feeding sites, collectively spending more than US$8.1 million annually in the Maldives alone in search of their own underwater encounter with these captivating animals.
In the past 10 years scientists have made a good start at uncovering the secret lives of manta rays, however we are only just beginning to glimpse below the surface. Much still remains to be found out about even the basics of their biology, and with the largest brain to body ratio of all the world’s fishes, there is much still to understand about their intelligence, curiosity and social interaction. Learning more about these species is vital to being able to provide them with effective protection and ensuring their persistence in years to come. I hope I never tire of seeking the answers to the unanswered questions, and that by sharing my knowledge and passion I can promote imaginative thought and empathy in others, so that together the science and conservation of manta rays will be driven forward.
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