FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE West Manggarai and Komodo, Indonesia Creates 7,000km2 Shark and Manta Ray Sanctuary

Labuan Bajo, Flores, Indonesia August 24, 2013 The district Governor of West Manggarai and Komodo, Indonesia today designated his districts entire marine and coastal waters as a shark and manta ray sanctuary. Fishing is now prohibited for manta rays, sharks, and other threatened species such as turtles and Napoleon wrasse, throughout the districts 7,000km2 waters that extend up to 12 nautical miles offshore. Our district of West Manggarai and Komodo is recognized as a world class marine tourism destination. By prohibiting fishing for these threatened species, we can ensure they will remain for future generations to enjoy, said Mr Sebastinus Wantung, Head of the districts Marine and Fisheries Agency. West Manggarai and Komodo, located at the heart of the Coral Triangle, is home to some of the worlds richest marine biodiversity, including more than 10 shark species, and both oceanic (Manta birostris) and reef manta rays (Manta alfredi). Todays announcement extends existing conservation management within Komodo National Parks 1,000km2 marine habitats to now encompass the entire district. Manta watching tourism is worth an estimated US$15 million to Indonesias economy every year, and West Manggarai and Komodo is one of the premier destinations. The chance to see a manta ray draws divers and snorkelers from around the world, said MantaWatch director Andrew Harvey. I applaud the Governors visionary leadership, this is a fantastic example of how local governments and the diving industry can work together to achieve positive impacts for the environment and the economy. The West Manggarai and Komodo shark and manta ray sanctuary signals a growing trend towards governmental awareness in Indonesia of the tremendous economic value of these species, and the urgent need for improved management. West Manggarai is the second bold district to create a shark and manta ray sanctuary, and follows the designation of a 46,000km2 sanctuary in Raja Ampat in November 2012. Meanwhile, Indonesias Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is working with scientists and NGOs to establish regulations that will grant national-level protected status to several endangered shark and ray species. The West Manggarai and Komodo district government invited MantaWatch to provide technical and legal advice, and worked with more than 20 local dive centers to develop proposals for the shark and manta ray sanctuary. Divers are now helping to monitor the sanctuarys impacts on populations of threatened species by sharing their encounters on MantaTrax, a social web application developed by MantaWatch to promote open and participative marine conservation. MantaWatch is a not-for-profit marine conservation company based in London, United Kingdom that is working to protect threatened manta rays by applying technologies and education to support local conservation actions. MantaWatch operates MantaTraxthe worlds first social web application dedicated to open, transparent and participative marine conservationand runs the annual MantaWatch Internship Programa professional manta ray research and conservation training program for students in developing countries. Contact Information: Andrew Harvey MantaWatch Ltd 145-156 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PW, United Kingdom andy@mantawatch.com +62 815 29 000 406.

### Editors Notes: Manta rays are listed as vulnerable to extinction under the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) Red List. With females only producing two to three pups every five years, slow reproductive cycles mean that manta rays are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation. Fishing is the greatest threat to manta rays. Indonesia is the worlds largest exporter of manta gill rakers for the Chinese medicinal trade. Following a vote by 179 nations, manta rays were listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in March 2013. Countries must now demonstrate that their exports are not detrimental to wild populations. The West Manggarai and Komodo shark and manta ray sanctuary will assist Indonesia to meet obligations under CITES, and ensure a sustainable future for its manta rays. More than 20 local dive centers and tourism operators supported the proposal to declare a marine sanctuary for manta rays and other threatened species, including Bajo Dive Club, Bintang Flores Hotel, Blue Marlin, Dive Komodo, Divine Diving, Johns Snorkels, Kanawa Island Diving, Komodo Aqua Diving, Komodo Mega Tours, Laguna Divers, Perama Tours and Travel, Puri Sari Beach Hotel, Reef Seekers, Samurai, Treebucca, Treetop, and Wicked Diving. West Manggarai & Komodo manta ray sanctuary is enacted via Governors Decree No. DKPP/1309/VIII/2013 on the prohibition of fishing sharks, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse, and certain fish and marine life within the marine waters of West Manggarai. MantaTrax is the worlds first social web application dedicated to open, transparent and participative marine conservation. MantaTrax can be accessed at http://trax.mantawatch.com.