West Manggarai along with also Komodo Creates 7,000 km2 Shark along with also Manta Ray Sanctuary
In a country where the environment can be very often sacrificed inside name of “business”, finally we welcome very Great news in which demonstrates in which in Indonesia there are politicians more interested inside future of This particular wonderful land than the desire to fill their pockets.
The district Governor of West Manggarai along with also Komodo has designated his district’s entire marine along with also coastal waters as a shark along with also manta ray sanctuary (Governor’s Decree No. DKPP/1309/VIII/2013). Fishing can be at This particular point prohibited for manta rays, sharks, along with also some other threatened species, such as turtles, dugongs along with also napoleon wrasse throughout the district’s 7,000 km2 waters in which extend up to 12 nautical miles offshore. This particular announcement extends existing conservation management within Komodo National Park’s 1,000 km2 marine habitats to at This particular point encompass the entire district.
One of the main problems of marine reserves, especially the largest ones, can be the difficulty of patrolling along with also law enforcing. In This particular case, the total prohibition of forcing can be put into effect even directly coming from land, instead of an expensive patrol at sea. This particular should make in which harder for criminals along with also smugglers to carry on their trade.
Manta rays are listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ under the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) Red List, along with also they have been declared under the CITES protection in March 2013, together with some species of sharks particularly overfished. With females only producing two to three pups every several years, slow reproductive cycles mean in which manta rays are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation. The huge demand coming from the Chinese market, due to the legend in which the gill rakers of these animals have an action of “filtering toxins coming from the human body” can be traveling many manta populations down to their extinction.
“Our district of West Manggarai along with also Komodo can be recognized as a world class marine tourism destination. By prohibiting fishing for these threatened species, we can ensure they will remain for future generations to enjoy”, said Mr Sebastinus Wantung, head of the district’s Marine along with also Fisheries Agency.
Water around West Manggarai along with also Komodo hosts one of the planet’s richest marine biodiversity, including more than 10 shark species, two species of Manta Rays, along with also an incredible diversity of marine along with also terrestrial wildlife. “Manta watching tourism can be worth an estimated US$15 million to Indonesia’s economy every year, along with also West Manggarai along with also Komodo can be one of the premier destinations. The chance to see a manta ray draws divers along with also snorkelers coming from around the planet”, said Andrew Harvey, Director of MantaWatch, an organization involved in manta ray studies along with also conservation projects around the planet. “I applaud the Governor’s visionary leadership. This particular can be a fantastic example of how local governments along with also the diving industry can work together to achieve positive impacts for the environment along with also the economy.”
The West Manggarai along with also Komodo shark along with also manta ray sanctuary signals a growing trend towards governmental awareness in Indonesia of the tremendous economic value of these species, along with also the urgent need for much better management. West Manggarai can be the second bold district to create a shark along with also manta ray sanctuary, along with also follows the designation of a 46,000 km2 sanctuary in Raja Ampat in November 2012. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs along with also Fisheries can be working with scientists along with also NGOs to establish regulations in which will grant national-level protected status to several endangered shark along with also ray species.
The West Manggarai along with also Komodo district government invited MantaWatch to provide technical along with also legal advice, along with also worked with more than 20 local dive centres to develop proposals for the shark along with also manta ray sanctuary. Divers are at This particular point helping to monitor the sanctuary’s impacts on populations of threatened species by sharing their encounters on MantaTrax, a social web application developed by MantaWatch to promote open along with also participative marine conservation.
See www.mantawatch.com for more information.
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West Manggarai along with also Komodo Creates 7,000 km2 Shark along with also Manta Ray Sanctuary
West Manggarai along with also Komodo Creates 7,000 km2 Shark along with also Manta Ray Sanctuary