MANTA RAYS, THE QUEENS OF THE LAGOONS
Manta rays are large, graceful fish known for their beauty and size. They are often described as magnificent and awe-inspiring when seen underwater. However, manta rays are becoming increasingly rare in the lagoons of French Polynesia due to human activities such as boat traffic, pollution, and habitat disruption. In Bora Bora — once a thriving habitat for these gentle giants — a local conservation group is now working to study and protect them, raising awareness about their importance in marine ecosystems and the threats they face.
Who could forget the small, curious eye of a manta ray trying to make eye contact? Or the graceful dance of these gentle giants swimming nearby, sharing a quiet and magical moment? For any diver, these encounters feel like rare and special gifts—peaceful moments floating between two worlds.
Manta rays are part of the large ray family, which evolved from sharks about 60 million years ago, during a time when ocean food was becoming scarce. Today, scientists have identified over 500 species of rays, grouped into 18,000 families, each with its own shape, habitat, and way of life.
The Manta Birostris, part of the Mobulidae family, is the only manta ray species found in Polynesian waters. It's also the largest—it can grow up to 6 meters wide and weigh more than a ton.
The manta ray has a unique shape. Its flat body looks like a wide diamond, with long, flexible fins that make it look like it has wings. Its back is dark brown or black, while its belly is white with black spots. These spots are different on each manta ray and help identify individuals. Its name, "manta," means "blanket" in Spanish, because of its large, flat shape.
Manta rays eat a lot of plankton and small fish, which they swallow with their big open mouths. They must keep swimming all the time—if they stop, they could sink and stop breathing. At night, they travel long distances (10 to 20 kilometers) to find food. In the morning, they go to shallow, sunny waters to warm their backs. This helps them digest food better by speeding up the breakdown of plankton in their stomach.
A Mythical but Threatened Creature
Because of their “horned” appearance, with two head fins guiding food into their mouths, manta rays have long been called “devils of the sea.” They appear in many myths and legends and were once feared by sailors. In French Polynesia, some people believed that manta rays blocked pearl divers from returning to the surface. In the Tuamotu Islands, old stories even claim they kidnapped children. Even today, some locals are still afraid of them underwater.
But in reality, manta rays are completely harmless. They eat only plankton and small sea creatures. They are curious and calm by nature. No proven stories support the old myths.
Sadly, humans pose a real danger to manta rays. In Asia, they are hunted for their skin and for use in traditional medicine. The demand has grown so much that they are now hunted in places like Africa and Mexico. In tropical areas like Australia, the Maldives, Hawaii, and French Polynesia, manta rays also suffer from too much tourism. Governments in these places are slowly starting to protect them. Manta rays are now listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). In French Polynesia, catching, selling, or harming manta rays has been banned since 1998. But even with this protection, their environment still isn't fully safe.
Bora Bora: A Key Area for Biodiversity
Manta rays live in all five Polynesian archipelagos (except Tahiti and Moorea), but Bora Bora is one of the most popular places to see them. However, this also puts them at risk. Over 40,000 tourists visit Bora Bora each year, and the pressure from human activity threatens the manta ray population there.
Since 2002, Moeava de Rosemont, a diver and Vice-President of the Manta Polynesia Research & Protect Association, has worked to identify and track manta rays using photos. His research shows that the number of rays depends on tourism and construction near their habitats. One site, Toopua, was abandoned by manta rays after a hotel was built in 2002–2003.
Another site, Anau, is very important. It is a gathering spot during mating season and a cleaning station where fish remove parasites from the rays. Because so many boats and divers visit Anau, the manta rays have been disturbed. In 2005, they left the site, likely due to this pressure. But in 2009, with fewer tourists because of the economic crisis, some rays started to return. In 2010, only about 20 manta rays were believed to still live in Bora Bora, down from over 100 in the 1980s. Protecting them is now both an ecological and economic priority.
What Can Be Done?
The future of these gentle “sea devils” depends on protecting their environment. The Manta Polynesia Research & Protect Association has suggested creating a protected marine area around Anau. They propose hiring lagoon rangers who speak French, English, and Tahitian to educate people and fine anyone who breaks the rules. Funding could come from selling small items like pearl shell tokens to tourists as an “eco-tax.”
Only a strong commitment from everyone—governments, locals, and visitors—can help save these majestic and fragile creatures.