Don't TOUCH the mantas... whilst you're at it DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!

On my recent trip to layang-layang we had the pleasure of seeing mantas. Such beautiful and graceful creatures that are truly breathtaking to watch and appreciate. But yes many people take to chasing them or disturbing them on cleaning stations. If they are curious and comfortable they will come towards you... imagine a stranger chasing you down the road trying to take a picture of you or touch you! So being curious I decided to read a little bit more about them and share it with you, if you are interested.

Extracted from Dive-The-World.com

Distinguishing Features

Mantas can grow to 6.7m wide, weigh up to 1,400kg, and are the largest of all rays. The Spanish word for blanket is 'manta' and aptly describes the unique spherical body shape of this animal.

Also known as "devil ray" with graceful pectoral 'wings', manta rays are easily recognised by their paddle-like cephalic lobes projecting forward from the front of the head (actually extensions of the pectoral fins, supported by radial cartilages), and a very broad, rectangular terminal mouth.

Mantas vary in colour from black, grey-blue, to red-brown on the upper surface of their cartilage body, sometimes with white shoulder patches and blotches, and almost pure white on the lower surface of their pectoral fins and body disc. Their body patterns show individual variation and helps identify individuals.

There are also regional differences in manta ray colour patterns. For example, specimens from the eastern Pacific often feature dusky to mostly black undersurfaces, while those from the western Pacific are typically snow white underneath.

Although it's difficult not to recognise an adult manta ray, juveniles are similar to mobula rays (of which there are 9 species) that grow to 3 metres and share paddle-shaped cephalic lobes and gracefully curved pectoral wings. Mantas are now thought to be a single species, and mobulas are most readily distinguished by the position of the mouth - mobulas have sub-terminal mouths (located underneath the head, similar to many sharks), whilst mantas have terminal mouths (located at the front of the head).

Behaviour

A manta ray is capable of rapid speed and juveniles sometimes leap well clear of the water, landing with a loud slap, sometimes performing 2 or 3 of these jumps in succession. The act seems to be playing or social behaviour - the great, crashing splash of their re-entries can often be heard from miles away. Getting rid of parasites may also play a role, much like breeching whales.

Manta rays frequently visit reef-side "cleaning stations" to let cleaner wrasse remove small parasites from skin and gill cavities, sometimes several lining up to wait their turn.

Seemingly inquisitive, manta rays may sometimes approach and even solicit attention from divers, apparently enjoying the tactile stimulation provided by human contact as well as the bubbles from scuba units. In areas frequented by divers, however, they often become very wary and cease to approach.

When approached rapidly or grasped, they roll onto their backs, dive, or swim away rapidly, righting themselves only when some distance away. Entering the water carefully so as to not scare manta rays away will greatly increase the enjoyment of your encounter and protect them from injury. Hovering and staying still will eventually allow the manta ray to approach you. It's best to position yourself a long the bottom or near a cleaning station to observe them close up.

Touching a manta ray, even if they present their bellies for a rub, will remove some of the mucus that protects them against marine infections. Stay within their vision and let them decide if they want to approach you. Although some manta rays seem to enjoy the bubbles from the SCUBA unit on their bellies, avoid exhaling bubbles into their face, as it may scare them off.

Flash photography and video doesn't seem to bother the manta ray, but do not disturb them if they are engage in feeding, cleaning or mating. Direct eye contact is considered a friendly connection, which they also seem to enjoy. Remember to never ride a manta ray, event though it may appear as if they present themselves for a ride.

Reproduction

The manta ray is ovoviviparous with a usual litter size of 2 - each pup wrapped in a thin-shell that hatches inside the mother, later to be born alive. Birth occurs in relatively shallow water, where the young remain for several years before expanding their range further offshore. Like sharks and other rays, mantas are fertilized internally. The fertilized eggs develop inside a mother manta's body for an unknown length of time that may exceed 12 months.

So those that dive please help conserve the beauty for generations to come.

Peace, Love and Respect,
Jenn

Reply to : Sabah may be the first state to ban shark hunting (Press Statement : The Star, Sunday May 8, 2011)

Dear Datuk Masidi,

As a Malaysian, a diver and a person who has seen first hand horrifc shark finning in Mabul I applaud your efforts and those of the Sabah state government and anyone who is working towards the conservation of our marine life.

Conservation is everyone’s business be it government, private sector, communities and individuals but the initiative must start from somewhere.

Malaysia has world-class dive sites which are frequented by visitors far and wide. Fishing villagers and communities need to be taught and given alternative means of making a living other than by the exploitation of the marine life and coral reefs. They need to learn that protecting the environment can also be good for business and they can cultivate the benefits of a healthy ecosystem.

Adequate financing, proper management systems and support need to be given to the villagers so that they are ensured of jobs and income to provide for their families. They should be trained to support the tourism industry rather than make their living via illegal activities. Although heads and expertise can come from abroad but all staffing should be locals who are trained to either enforce the regulations (i.e. no sharking hunting, fish bombing, commercial fishing), become guides, boatsmen, run dive operations, operators of home stays or hotels and eventually the community will be able to sustain themselves.

After all the ones reaping the riches of such illegal activities such as shark fining are not those catching the sharks themselves but those that fund such operations.

We cannot blame those that are only trying to make a living. Change cannot happen overnight. Mindsets and socio-economic conditions take time to change but we need to start now before we come to the point of no return for our marine life.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Thompson






ORIGINAL PRESS REPORT -
Sunday May 8, 2011

SABAH MAY BE THE FIRST STATE TO BAN SHARK HUNTING
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
vmugu@thestar.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is likely to be the first state to ban shark hunting for their fins in a bid to protect the marine creature.

The state government is now studying the legal aspects of the proposed ban which would require amendments to the State Wildlife Protection Ordinance with the aim of introducing it by the end of the year.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the situation was becoming critical for this marine creature as only 20% of its original population was still left in the country.

“From my last briefing, there are only four areas in Sabah where sharks can be spotted.

“If we don't do something about it, the population may disappear from our waters completely,” Masidi said yesterday.

Masidi said he was told by experts that the sharks no longer existed in peninsular Malaysia waters.

He said the state attorney-general was now studying the matter.

He added that the state government was working with non-governmental groups to educate the public on the need to protect sharks from “disappearing” entirely.

“We understand the sensitivities involved as it is a must for some people to serve shark fin soup during weddings. But what we are trying to do is to educate the people to skip the dish for conservation's sake,” he said, adding that it would also get Malaysia Airports Berhad to bar retailers from selling shark fins in airports in the state.

The state government, he added, had also taken shark fin soup off the menu of its official functions.