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MANTA
PACIFIC
RESEARCH
FOUNDATION
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PRESS
RELEASE
House Resolution 30 Passes to Protect Manta Rays
Honolulu,
Hawaii - March 31, 2006 House Resolution No. 30, written by Kona
District Representative Josh Green, was heard and passed by the Committee
on Water, Land, and Ocean Resources. The Resolution calls for the
establishment of a working group to protect the batoidea order, including
manta rays, from poaching and fishing in Hawaiian waters. Specifically,
it directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) with
researching and pursuing all possible means of protecting manta rays,
and drafting proposed administrative rules to prevent poaching, fishing,
or killing manta rays. In the meantime, DLNR is requested to immediately
implement emergency measures to prohibit the taking of manta rays
while the study is in progress. DNLR is required to submit their findings
30 days prior to the regular legislative session in 2007. If significant
protection is not achieved by January 30, 2007, the Legislature is
directed to enact laws to implement 100% protection of all manta rays
in Hawaiian waters.
Kona
resident and founder of Manta Pacific Research Foundation, Keller
Laros, testified to the committee during the hearing at the State
Capitol. He explained that data from the 15 year study that the Foundation
has been conducting in collaboration with Tim Clark from University
of Hawaii shows that the Kona manta rays have a localized population
that do not migrate inter-island. With only 99 manta rays ever sighted
on the Kona coast and only 70 along the Maui shores, it would be very
easy to wipe out the entire population if anyone decided to fish for
these rays, as Manta rays have a very low reproductive rate, only
producing one pup every 3-5 years. Laros states, “It’s important
to be proactive rather than reactive. We want this rule in place so
it protects the existing animals. If fishing ever started, the population
would easily be wiped out for our lifetime and that of our children’s.”
This
is a great step for the protection of manta rays in Hawaii which would
not have been possible without the support of the local community
and visitors to Hawaii who wish for manta rays to have a safe home
in Hawaii. We would like to thank the over 5,600 people who signed
petitions, wrote to our representatives, and gave testimony at the
hearing. Without your kokua, HR 30 would have never passed. Mahalo.
Click
Here for Text of House Resolution 30
About
Manta Pacific Research Foundation
Manta Pacific
Research Foundation's mission is to study manta rays in their natural
habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for
the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish
and promote manta ray conservation. For more information, go to www.mantapacific.org,
or write to Manta Pacific Research Foundation, P.O. Box 3227 Kailua-Kona,
HI 96745-3227 or email us at info@mantapacific.org.
Manta Pacific Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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