![]() The creature could have a greater economic value alive than the Rs.170,000 it was sold for, according to experts. Manta rays are a migratory species, so the one caught by the Mirissa fishermen could be one that was part of an attraction elsewhere. In the Maldives, rays are a key tourist attraction and operators for manta ray watching are estimated to generate over US$73 million a year with a direct economic impact, including associated tourism earnings of US$140 million a year, according to a 2013 study on ‘The Global Economic Impact of Manta Ray Watching Tourism’. Manta rays are an important attraction in marine tourism because of their enormous size and they are easily drawn to humans. ![]() He confirmed that what was caught by Mirissa fishermen was a giant manta ray, scientifically called mobula birostris. “But manta ray is a marvel of nature, and it would be worth more alive,” said Daniel Fernando of the Blue Resources Trust, an expert on rays and sharks. The giant Manta Ray Pic by Tharanga Gunarathne ![]() It took about 15 hours for the boat to reach Mirissa harbour, according to its skipper Ranjith Abeysundara. The fish was netted about 25 nautical miles offshore, so dragging it back to shore was a struggle. To offload the 800 kilogram fish, they had to use a backhoe. They hauled in a giant manta ray and sold it for Rs 170,000. The ocean deity Poseidon would have heard their prayers. It is a difficult time for everyone, so the fishermen of the boat ‘Sehansa’ that left Mirissa harbour on May 1, prayed for a good catch.
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