![]() ![]() While it has been illegal to catch the rays in Ecuadorean waters since 2010, their presence and tendency to swim near the surface of the water for long stretches make them vulnerable to being caught by abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear, accidental boat strikes and bycatch. Unfortunately, the same conditions which attract giant oceanic manta rays to the area also create perfect conditions for industrial-scale fishing. ![]() The population is driven to the region by the convergence of equatorial currents and strong upwellings which drive nutrient-rich water to the surface between June and September each year, providing sustenance for the krill and plankton which in turn become food sources for the filter-feeding manta rays. Identification of giant manta rays for the study was provided by photographs taken by scuba divers, guides and instructors, from as early as 2005 – before dedicated research expeditions to the region had begun – using the spot markings present on the mantas’ ventral side, which are unique to each animal. Marine Reserve off the coast of Ecuador Ecuador in 1996, and research has been focused on these areas since 2010. Seasonal, predictable aggregations of giant mantas were discovered at Isla de la Plata in the Machalilla National Park, and the Bajo Copé Revillagigedo Archipelago & Guadalupe Island.
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