Environmental organisations are calling for more awareness and protection of manta rays protection of manta rays in Fiji following the death of a reef manta in a net in Laucala Bay, Suva on August 14.

Semisi Meo, Marine Program Senior Manager for Conservation International Fiji said, “Mantas are a highly emblematic animal for raising environmental awareness.”

“We have deep cultural connections with these majestic animals dating back thousands of years.”

“They also provide great value to the Fijian tourism industry as these gentle and majestic giants are a top draw for divers and snorkelers.”

In 2018 a marine study, scientifically confirmed the existence of the Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) and Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) in Fiji’s waters.

Manta Trust project leader Luke Gordon said, “We currently know that both species of manta ray, the reef manta ray, and the oceanic manta ray utilise the habitat in and around Laucala bay as a feeding site throughout the year.”

Conservation International and Manta Trust are together seeking stronger monitoring and surveillance activities from our regulating authorities, especially in the Laucala Bay area, during this period to protect these animals from fishing.

Mr Meo said “We would like to request a special consideration of the Laucala Bay during seasonality and have more surveillance particularly on the spotting of unique species such as this.”

“Other megafauna species have been spotted and caught in the same bay.”

“We need to act to protect this biodiversity.”

An aerial shot of the Laucala Bay and Rewa Estuary. PHOTO by TOM VIERUS – Pacific Media House

Manta rays are slow growing large marine fish, who not only take up to 15 years to reach sexual maturity, but there-after only have one pup every 2-5 years, meaning any targeted or even incidental fishing pressures can have devastating effects on the population.

“The population status of both species in Fiji is still not fully known, but what we do know is that manta rays are and will continue to be of very important ecological and economic importance to the Fiji Islands,” Mr Gordon said.

He reiterated the call for more awareness to save the manta ray species.

“Their larger oceanic cousins, which are also spotted in Laucala bay, are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.”

“Laucala bay is currently the only site we know of where these endangered species feed in Fiji, no doubt there are other sites, but we cannot afford to lose such an iconic species that we know so little about, that, in the future could be a large part of the countries tourism economy,” Mr Gordon said.

“Tourists come from all over the world to swim with manta rays in Fiji and the reef manta rays that many tourists might swim with in the Yasawa Islands, the Lomaiviti group, Kadavu or even around Taveuni might even be the same individuals travelling to Laucala bay.”

In an email response to CI and Manta Trust’s concern on the manta ray catch, the Ministry of Fisheries has indicated that all species of mobula are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II and at the national level through the Endangered and Protected Species (EPS) Act and the Offshore Fisheries Management Act (OFMA).

The Ministry confirms that there is a need for more awareness to communities and to the wider public on the significance of the epic species economically, socially, culturally and ecologically.

Mr Gordon has urged members of the public that if anyone spots manta rays in or around the Laucala Bay area to take a picture and get in touch with him on his email: luke.gordon@mantatrust.org or Mr Meo on smeo@conservation.org

He said it can be incredibly important for their data collection.