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The Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) population at Isla de la Plata, Machalilla National Park, might be the largest in the world...
Isla de la Plata is one of the
highlight attractions of Machalilla National Park, Manabí Province. Located 50 km away from the Coast of Puerto López, it covers almost 3.000 acres. A diversity of marine birds can be found on the island, and the waters surrounding it are rich in marine life, a favorite spot for snorkeling and diving.
Ever since Project Mantas Ecuador began their underwater studies at Isla de la Plata, this island has gained even more international attention from scientists. Michel Guerrero, Marine Biologist and founder of Exploramar Diving, leads this project of identification and studies of giant manta rays at the site. He has the support of the renowned specialist Dr. Andrea Marshall, who did her PhD research on the population ecology of manta rays. Dr. Andrea Marshall lives in Mozambique and is founder of the Foundation for the Protection of Marine Megafauna (FPMM). Both scientists agree that with a single dive one can imagine that the Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) population at Isla de la Plata might be the largest in the world.
Each individual Giant Manta Ray is different as they have marks in their stomach that are their fingerprints. Thus, by taking a picture of the stomach, divers are able to identify individuals and count them. Project Mantas Ecuador identified 104 individuals in 2009, 184 individuals in 2010, and approximately 260 individuals in 2011. The project has already placed 5 satellite tags on manta rays in order to study their behavior, and has taken 14 DNA samples.
Michel Guerrero considers that one of the responsibilities of the project is to inform the public of the importance of learning about giant manta rays and protecting them. Even though they are large animals that can measure up to 8 meters (26 feet) from wing to wing, they are very fragile because a female only has one pup at the time. Moreover, it is believed that the offspring have to care for themselves from the moment that they are born. There isn’t any evidence that the mothers stick around to help them survive. Thus, there is an extremely high mortality rate in the first year of life.
According to Michel Guerrero, Ecuador is taking the right steps for the conservation of giant Manta Rays, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The country already has a Ministerial agreement for the Adequate Management of Sustainable Diving. The studies that are being carried out by Project Mantas Ecuador will sure contribute to the understanding and conservation of this amazing species which easily overwhelm humans with their enormous proportions and peculiar behavior.
For more information about Project Mantas Ecuador contact:
Michel Guerrero- Marine Biologist
Cell phone: (593 9) 950 0910
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Practical information:
To visit Isla de la Plata we recommend Mantaraya Lodge (see ad on page 61), which offers scuba diving and tours to the island and other sites at the Machalilla National Park.
Phone: (593 2) 336/0887 & 336/0888
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.mantarayalodge.com
