Manta Ray Hunting

Manta Ray Hunting

In the early days, the Manta Ray was hunted and killed so that the oils could be extracted from the body. The skin was also used as a type of sandpaper. The culture from the Philippines continue to hunt the Manta Ray today as a source of meat. As a result of these efforts the number of Manta Ray dropped drastically in many parts of the world.

Japan it is still legal to hunt the Manta Ray. This is often done to provide a source of meat. There is also money to be made by taking hunters on guided kills where they can get their fill of this type of animal. Even with some pressure from other countries to stop such practices there hasn’t been enough leverage to make a difference. Since the Manta Ray isn’t well protected around the world the Japanese don’t like being singled out for such activities.

Mexico is a location where such hunting resulted in their presence becoming almost non-existent. Throughout Asia parts of the Manta Ray were used to make various forms of medications. Some of them have even been given to treat different forms of cancer. In some areas, commercial fishermen have decided that Manta Rays are just as good of a catch as other fish in the waters.

Even those that don’t intentionally hunt them have done so. This is due to the fact that they often get tangled up in the nets put out there to capture other types of fish. Since these animals are going to follow where the large numbers of fish are, it is no secret that they often get in the way. Many commercial fisherman don’t care of they harm or kill the Manta Ray either. They are out there to make money off the fish they capture. They know they will yield more if these animals aren’t in the water eating them.

It is the goal of many conservation groups out there to stop the hunting of the Manta Ray. Since we don’t have a good count of how many of them exist in the world, it becomes an issue with tensions building on both sides. It is hard for such conservation groups to get people to take notice of their needs. This is because they can’t prove the hunting of them is going to affect the overall population.

Yet on the other hand you also have to realize that there isn’t enough evidence out there to indicate there is an abundance of Manta Ray either. This is why both sides of the issue continue to try to lobby to get strict laws or to get more freedom to hunt them. Many people don’t seem to care one way or the other. However, they are starting to take more of an interest as new information and education is being put out there by researchers and conservation groups.

It is believed that many Manta Ray are killed every day in various parts of the world. There is no way to get a good estimate of how many that includes annually. What is known is that if efforts to reduce them don’t continue then we may one day find that the Manta Ray is in danger. It isn’t a good idea to wait until we think that is what has gone on to take action.