Manta Rays Help Filipino Eco-Tourism

Manta rays are numerous in the mid-water reefs of Sitio Tacdogan, Barangay Bagahanglad, off San Jacinto in Masbate. Now known as “manta bowl,” the site is the play, feeding and mating area of these giant fish locally called pasa-pasa, which has a wingspan of more than six (6) metres. A relative of the shark species, these plankton feeding fish are themselves a prey to hammerhead and thresher sharks with which they share their habitat.

A study by Tristan Paylado, a researcher of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reveal that manta rays are naturally friendly and enjoy the company of humans in their water world. They welcome “friendly connection” such as direct eye contact. Some manta rays enjoy the bubbles exhaled by divers on their undersides. They are not bothered by flash photography or video.

However they do not like being disturbed when courting, mating and feeding and do not enjoy being mounted on their backs, in other words, too close a physical contact.

Their presence in this coral reef area, has certainly added a big attraction to divers and other eco-tourists who frequent the site. With the rise in the number of tourists, however, come the threats and disturbances to the feeding and mating activities of the manta rays.

The BFAR cited the need to put up a tourist zone marine reserve to avert the detrimental effects of the growing ecotourism industry on the manta rays. It also recommends putting up a preventive buoy system in Bontod-Tacdogan to regulate fishing activities, stop the use of drift gill nets, and minimize damage to the reef system.

Limiting the number of tourists and divers is also proposed to minimize disturbance. The BFAR says closing of the reef during the mating season is needed to allow for successful mating among the manta rays.



[2007]