**1. Introduction**

In the past decade, researchers have conducted studies on the increasing numbers of tourists who are observing marine wild animals, including manta ray tourism around the world [1–6]. It is still debatable how wildlife tourism possible bring positive contributionsn while other type of tourism rae still strugling to achive its sustianbility. This chapter will explore the current opartions of manta rays toruism in Indonesia and identify the possible benefits form this type of tourism while also reviewed other benefits from different areas worldwide.

## **2. Manta rays**

Deakos [7] described manta rays as belong to the taxonomic family *Mobulidae* which consists of 2 genera, *Mobula* (9 species) and *Manta* (2 species). A recent study by using molecular biology (DNA) combined the genera *Mobula* and *Manta* as one genus (*Mobula*) and confirmed the presence of two manta ray species, *Mobula alfredi* and *Mobula birostris* (**Figure 1**). The genus *Mobula* is characterized by the presence of one lobe on each side of the head, wing-liked pectoral fins, terminal mouth and a stingless tail [8–11]. Unique characteristics possessed by manta rays are two head lobes (horns) and a frontal lobe for filtering plankton. **Figure 1**

**Figure 1.** Mobula alfredi *and* Mobula birostris *(photo by Csilla Ari/University of South Florida).*

shows the marks on the upper shoulders which form a pattern loosely resembling the letter "T" (*M. birostris*) or "Y" (*M. alfredi*) and serve as a marker for distinguishing the species. Furthermore, each individual manta ray has unique color variations, spotted patterns on the lower shoulders which can serve as fingerprints.

Among the largest fish species in the world, manta rays are gentle giants and are widely perceived as a charismatic species representing the ecological and social/ cultural values of marine biodiversity. Manta rays are large planktivorous elasmobranchs generally found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters (**Figure 2**). Like other species in the mobulid family, manta rays are filter feeders [9]. Their frontal lobes help direct water to their mouths and over their highly sought-after gill rakers, where a great variety of planktonic organisms are filtered, including copepods, mysid shrimps, and arrow worms [12]. According [9, 13], they live for about 50–100 years and reach sexual maturity at an age of 10–25 years. **Figure 1** shows *Mobula alfredi*, which grows up to an average wingspan of 3 m to 4.5 m with a weight of around 1.4 tones [7]. *Mobula birostris* is larger with a wingspan of up to 7 m and weight of up to 2 tonnes [10, 14].

Much like many other elasmobranchs, manta ray populations are comparatively small because manta rays are slow to mature, slow to grow and reach maturity, and give birth to a small number of offspring with long gestation times, not to mention their large size [8, 15]. These characteristics make manta rays intrinsically vulnerable to overexploitation, as the recovery of depleted populations will be slow at best [8]. In 2014, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) declared Indonesia as the world's largest sanctuary for manta rays. MMAF prioritizes manta rays in Indonesian fisheries management under MMAF Ministerial Regulation No.4 of 2014 as a fully protected species based on Constitutional Act No.5, 1990. CITES has also listed manta rays in Appendix II meaning they are not necessarily imminently threatened with extinction, but trade in these species is controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Furthermore, the

**175**

[19, 20, 22, 24].

*Manta Ray Tourism*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93924*

rays as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List [16].

*Manta rays in Kofiau - Raja Ampat (photo by Patrick kun photography).*

**3. Manta ray tourism**

**Figure 2.**

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) listed manta rays in Appendices I and II while the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists manta

Charismatic species of marine wildlife become a driver for economic growth through marine wildlife tourism [17, 18]. Visitors want to experience seeing these animals first hand. Because of this reason, conserving marine species has benefits not just from non-consumptive uses, but also from the value of the ecosystem services provided by the species. According to [19]. Marine wildlife tourism is "any tourist activity with the primary purpose of watching, studying or enjoying marine wildlife". [20] gives a wider definition of marine wildlife tourism as activities that offer the acknowledgment of marine natural assets where the activities include fauna and flora whether marine or not. [21] describes marine wildlife tourism as offering different encounters between visitors and endangered species with a particular code of conduct where they are being cared for tourists' experiences. This statement is supported by [22] who emphasizes that the experience of wildlife tourism includes observation of the target animals in the wild, semi-captive, or captive environment. Marine wildlife tourism often provides encounter activities involving visitors which may be associated with limited seasons such as annual migration seasons and breeding times. Furthermore, [23] argues that, with some safeguards to protect the marine environment by limiting physical construction, this type of tourism can be sustainable. The role of government plays a significant role in providing guidelines and regulations requiring private operators to implement codes of practice for wildlife watching [20, 24]. In addition, marine wildlife tourism offers opportunities for education by encouraging awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about marine species and their environment as well creating an incentive for conservation to minimize human impacts

In the past decade, researchers have conducted studies on marine wildlife tourism, including manta ray tours, that showed a dramatic increase of global tourist numbers

#### **Figure 2.**

*Tourism*

**Figure 1.**

shows the marks on the upper shoulders which form a pattern loosely resembling the letter "T" (*M. birostris*) or "Y" (*M. alfredi*) and serve as a marker for distinguishing the species. Furthermore, each individual manta ray has unique color variations, spotted patterns on the lower shoulders which can serve as fingerprints. Among the largest fish species in the world, manta rays are gentle giants and are widely perceived as a charismatic species representing the ecological and social/ cultural values of marine biodiversity. Manta rays are large planktivorous elasmobranchs generally found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters (**Figure 2**). Like other species in the mobulid family, manta rays are filter feeders [9]. Their frontal lobes help direct water to their mouths and over their highly sought-after gill rakers, where a great variety of planktonic organisms are filtered, including copepods, mysid shrimps, and arrow worms [12]. According [9, 13], they live for about 50–100 years and reach sexual maturity at an age of 10–25 years. **Figure 1** shows *Mobula alfredi*, which grows up to an average wingspan of 3 m to 4.5 m with a weight of around 1.4 tones [7]. *Mobula birostris* is larger with a wingspan of up to

Mobula alfredi *and* Mobula birostris *(photo by Csilla Ari/University of South Florida).*

Much like many other elasmobranchs, manta ray populations are comparatively small because manta rays are slow to mature, slow to grow and reach maturity, and give birth to a small number of offspring with long gestation times, not to mention their large size [8, 15]. These characteristics make manta rays intrinsically vulnerable to overexploitation, as the recovery of depleted populations will be slow at best [8]. In 2014, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) declared Indonesia as the world's largest sanctuary for manta rays. MMAF prioritizes manta rays in Indonesian fisheries management under MMAF Ministerial Regulation No.4 of 2014 as a fully protected species based on Constitutional Act No.5, 1990. CITES has also listed manta rays in Appendix II meaning they are not necessarily imminently threatened with extinction, but trade in these species is controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Furthermore, the

**174**

7 m and weight of up to 2 tonnes [10, 14].

*Manta rays in Kofiau - Raja Ampat (photo by Patrick kun photography).*

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) listed manta rays in Appendices I and II while the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists manta rays as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List [16].
