![]() In 2011, manta rays became strictly protected in international waters thanks to their recent inclusion in the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The Indonesian government banned catching Manta rays in 2014, following their listing on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II in 2013. What country did not support the protection of the Manta Rays? ![]() In fact, at up to 5,000 pounds, it can reach sizes that are more than 1,000 pounds larger than giant manta rays! At its largest, the great white shark can grow to around 21 feet.ĭo manta rays have any predators? Due to their large size and speed, they have very few natural predators, these include large sharks and killer whales. The great white shark easily outweighs the manta ray. That means that manta rays can’t sting you or anybody for that matter. ![]() Manta rays have long tails like stingrays. Despite rumour that the ray measured 11 metres (36ft) across, it’s more likely that it was 5 to 7 metres (the largest documented was about 7m). The manta (Manta birostris), which tipped the scales at an astounding 1,000 kilos (2,200 lbs), was accidentally caught by fishermen off the coast of Caleta la Cruz. Oceanic manta rays are the largest of their kind in the world, with wingspans of seven metres and are considered endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.īoaties are asked to report any sightings of the fish through Manta Watch New Zealand's social media.Indonesia, a nation that has been the world’s largest fishery for sharks and rays for nearly three decades, announced today legislation that will fully protect all manta rays within its nearly 6 million square kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ), making it the largest sanctuary for both species of manta rays in the … "Some of them ended up in Fiji and south Tonga, 2000 kilometres to the north, so at the moment what we know is they're here during summer and early April, they start migrating north." ![]() They have even managed to deploy satellite tags on some of the manta rays. It is also known as summersault feeding, where the creatures perform somersaults to keep moving but stay in a spot where food is plentiful. Setyawan said they have identified hot spots around the Hauraki Gulf near outlying islands, including Little Barrier, where the manta rays feed on the surface of the sea. They can swim very fast but they only use that for escaping from larger predators like other big sharks." "They don't have barbs or a sting so although they're huge, they can grow up to seven metres in wingspan especially the oceanic manta, they're not dangerous. "They've rarely seen humans so when we jump into the water often they're curious and try to get close and observe us and circle us," he said. Setyawan said they were gentle giants known for their graceful swimming and high intelligence. The latter are often difficult to observe via in-water surveys, but using drones they are very obvious." "Using the drones, you can see the claspers of mature males and mating scars on the left wings of sexually mature females. "Globally, researchers don't know much about the size of these animals, and knowing the size accurately is very important," he said. It is an extension of his research into reef manta rays in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Setyawan and a team have been spotting and measuring manta rays with drones since that sighting in February last year. "Our boat is six metres in length and the manta ray is just slightly bigger than the boat." They actually don't look wide because they fold up their wings but when they stretch their wings they're just huge," he said. "That's the biggest manta ray I've ever seen. University of Auckland postgraduate student Edy Setyawan said the manta ray was larger than the boat he was on, and he measured it with a drone. Oceanic manta rays are the largest of their kind in the world.
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