Indonesia protects sharks and manta rays

Listen to this article The Indonesian authorities have announced the creation of a sanctuary for sharks and manta rays living in Indonesian waters. Because of the lush and diverse life, the place where the park will be created is called the ‘Amazon of the Ocean’. By a decision of the authorities in Raja Ampat, an

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: March 10, 2013 - 18:00

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 04:15

Indonesia protects sharks and manta rays

Listen to this article

The Indonesian authorities have announced the creation of a sanctuary for sharks and manta rays living in Indonesian waters. Because of the lush and diverse life, the place where the park will be created is called the ‘Amazon of the Ocean’.

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By a decision of the authorities in Raja Ampat, an area of 46,000km² of ocean will be created in western New Guinea under total protection. Rizal Algamar of the Ministry of Nature Conservation said:

” Scientific evidence shows that the value of sharks and manta rays is far higher when they are alive. Instead of getting rich quick from catching these animals, it makes more sense to create an attraction around them for divers from all over the world.”

The sanctuary will be part of the ‘Coral Triangle’, an area in the Western Pacific covering the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Philippines and the islands of East Timor.

Shark and manta ray populations are under threat around the world. All because of the high demand for their fins and gills, which are popular ingredients in Asian cuisine and medicine.

Environmentalists working to protect these large marine creatures have backed Indonesia’s move. Keeping sharks, which are at the top of the food chain, alive is crucial to maintaining balance in the deep sea, they say.

Source: xray-mag.com Photo: Jonathan Chase Wikipedia Creative Commons

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.