1. Manta Harvesting in the
Alor and Solor Waters in
Eastern Indonesia
Report of Monitoring Activities and
Recommendations for Follow-up
By Zakarias Atapada, Widodo
Prayitno, Muhammad Hilmi,
Christian Holeng, Putu Liza Kusuma
Mustika and Lida Pet-Soede
August 2004

2. 2
Table of Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................3
Background................................................................................................................................................3
The focus of this report ..............................................................................................................................4
Methods.........................................................................................................................................................4
Stage I ........................................................................................................................................................5
Stage II.......................................................................................................................................................5
Stage III......................................................................................................................................................5
Stage IV .....................................................................................................................................................6
Stage V.......................................................................................................................................................6
Stage VI .....................................................................................................................................................6
Results ...........................................................................................................................................................6
Site description: Lamakera.........................................................................................................................6
Site description: Lamalera..........................................................................................................................7
Livelihood activities...................................................................................................................................8
Fisheries techniques and vessels ................................................................................................................8
Time and location of operations.................................................................................................................9
Catches.....................................................................................................................................................11
Other appealing wild life caught in the area – Mola mola or Oceanic Sunfish .......................................13
Processing and Marketing processes........................................................................................................13
Status and threat assessment of the manta population around Lamakera and Lamalera..........................16
Discussion and Recommendations..............................................................................................................16
Community program................................................................................................................................17
Research program ....................................................................................................................................17
Sustainable Fisheries Management Plan - MPAs ....................................................................................18
Sustainable development..........................................................................................................................18
Concluding remark...................................................................................................................................18
References ...................................................................................................................................................18
Annexes
VCD movie on the Alor/Solor expedition.
Acknowledgements
WWF is grateful for the participation and support of the people of Lamakera and Lamalera who made this work
possible, and especially Mr. Frans Keraf and Mrs. Udis Keraf, and Mr. Muhammad who implemented an
important part of this project locally. WWF is also thankful for the funding support by Mr. Dawes and to Mrs.
Heid Dewar who facilitated this grant, which allowed for a meaningful introduction to the people and practices in
the Alor and Solor area which will be followed up by much needed participatory approach to conservation and
management of natural resources to sustain coastal livelihoods.
About the authors
Zakarias Atapada, Widodo Prayitno, Muhammad Hilmi, Christian Holeng work for the Nusa Tenggara Program
of WWF Indonesia, Putu Liza Kusuma Mustika is an MSc candidate with James Cook University, Queensland,
Lida Pet-Soede works for the Marine Program of WWF Indonesia.
Reference
Atapada, Z., Prayitno, W., Hilmi, M., Holeng, C., Kusuma Mustika, P.L., and Pet-Soede, L. 2004. Manta
harvesting in the Alor and Solor waters in Eastern Indonesia - A Report of Monitoring Activities and
Recommendations for Follow-up. WWF Indonesia, 18 pp.

3. 3
Introduction
Background
Monitoring of harvesting activities of rays, mostly manta or pari and whales is one of the follow-up
activities of a Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) carried out by an expedition team in the Alor/Solor
area during two periods from 9-12th September 2001 and from 7-19th May 2002. The expedition teams
consisted of members of NGOs, governments and universities: WWF Indonesia, TNC Komodo, the
University of Atmajaya, UNPATTI, PIER, APEX Cairns, UNDIP Semarang and BAREG. The
expedition aimed to sample the status of the marine and coastal resources and the patterns of coastal
resource utilization and use findings to determine strategic actions in the region.
The expedition concluded that economic conditions of the coastal communities in Alor and Solor are less than
optimal and as a result unsustainable harvesting levels and -practices have become common ground. Also, the still
relatively good status of the ecosystems in this area lures fishers from afar to the area, thus increasing the pressure
on the natural resources even more.
Blast fishing occurs every day on the reefs.
Large numbers of manta rays are harvested for the leather industry and for export to provide material for the
shark-fin soup industry.
Dolphins and whales are caught to serve as bait for long-line fishing on sharks.
Bamboo traps, a traditional fishing gear, are more and more used to capture high-prized long-lived live
grouper for export markets.
In line with a UNDP report on small island development, WWF identifies six challenges to achieving a more
sustainable pattern of development for this area:
Limited access to technology and capital.
Limited understanding of ecological linkages between exploitation and sustained livelihoods.
Limited access to public services.
Little capacity with the local government to plan for sustainable development of small islands.
Inefficient linkages between small islands and regional, national and international markets.
Inefficient national policy for marine protected areas in Alor and Solor area.
An integrated approach to achieve sustainable fisheries and to enhance sustainable community-development is
proposed by WWF Indonesia for Alor and Solor. Some traditional management systems are still in place, where
local communities divide the reefs and regulate access to the resources. These local systems would benefit much
from larger involvement of regional and even national authorities and NGOs. Particularly when such support
would provide the local communities with a legal framework for regulation of access by outsiders and of
allowable practices. More so, when local communities could enhance their economic conditions by improved
access to markets for sustainable caught fish. So:
The area is proposed to achieve marine protected area status.
A comprehensive participatory enforcement program should be designed in combination with education and
awareness on natural resources.
Local and regional infrastructures and market dynamics must be reviewed for improvement in support of
reduction of pressure on inshore reef resources and on endangered marine mammals.
One of the most interesting yet potentially worrying findings of the expedition was the intensity and
specifics of manta harvesting. From interviews during the expedition preliminary calculations indicated
high pressure on the manta populations that frequent the waters in the area, particularly near Lamakera
and Lamalera.

4. 4
This report presents the findings of additional studies into these activities and discusses some potential
follow-up activities.
The focus of this report
Manta ray (Manta birostris) is an ovoviviparous elasmobranch that is commonly found around shallow
shelves in tropical waters. It only produces one large offspring every two or three years, thus its ability
to sustain healthy populations under exploitation is questionable. (IUCN, 2004). Mantas appeal to many
divers, thus contributing to the marine tourism sector in many places such as Bali and Derawan Islands
(East Kalimantan). At the same time this animal provides a function in food security in some remote
areas, and also generates income from selling the meat to international market.
Not much attention is paid to the practice of manta hunting and its possible sustainability. There is no
particular national conservation or fisheries law to regulate manta exploitation. Internationally, the
IUCN (International Union for Conservation for Nature) has listed manta rays as Data Deficient (IUCN,
2004), meaning that further research is required to understand the population level and dynamics of
manta rays, as well as the threats to their survival.
At the moment Indonesia has two manta ray hunting traditions in Lamakera village (Solor Island) and
Lamalera village (Lembata Island) in East Nusa Tenggara. Unknown population status of manta rays in
Solor and Lembata might lead to possible excessive manta harvesting in both villages that in return will
result in disturbed food security for the indigenous people of Lamalera and Lamakera.
Methods
Catch assessments and interviews were conducted from 2002-2004 and included 6 trips to the area:
Stage I from 4-12th December 2002; stage II from 10-21st May 2003; stage III on 10-11 August 2003;
stage IV from 5-8 November 2003; stage V February 2004 and the last trip VI in April 2004.
The research location was Solor Island particularly in Lamakera: the villages of Wotun Mutun and
Watobuku of sub-district Nagawutun in the Kabupaten of East Timor, and in Lamalera: the villages of
Lamalera A and Lamalera B in the Kabupaten of Lembata (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Satellite image of the survey area.

5. 5
The catch assessments were performed by staff of the Nusa Tenggara program of WWF Indonesia,
particularly by Zakarias Atapada, Widodo Prayitno, Muhammad Hilmi and Christian Holeng. Staff from
the marine program of WWF Indonesia provided some support particularly on conservation and
management background. Fishers were also actively involved in the assessments as catch logbooks were
distributed for them to enter their information. Aside from distributing logbooks to fishers, the team
conducted direct observation and interviews at landing sites for rays and whales, particularly to observe
the socio-economic life of the local fishing communities.
Additionally, Putu Liza, a student from James Cook University, Queensland Australia was asked to help
the team address some management issues by assessing the historical background and traditional
importance of manta ray hunting in Lamalera and Lamakera and considering additional threats of manta
rays in Lamalera and Lamakera (Putu Liza Kusuma Mustika, 2004). Data on catches of rays have been
collected as early as 1959 (Barnes, 1996) yet the records mixed mantas with other species of ray.
To understand stock migration and population interaction tissue samples were collected particularly
from the meat, the entrails and the gills, to be tested for DNA. These samples were sent to the WWF
Marine office in Denpasar, Bali and are still awaiting laboratory testing for DNA1
.
Stage I
The first stage catch data collection was less than optimum as the time and season for catching mantas
or pari had passed. Fishers explained that catch seasons extend from April to November with a peak
from July to October. Fishers however agreed to collaborate for the next season and the team rather
focused their work conducting interviews about the previous period and to obtain other information in
connection with the fishermen’s daily life.
Stage II
The second stage data collection was introduced again by socializing the work and explaining the
objective to the Village Head of Lamalera B and the fisher community. Logbooks were distributed
according to an agreement with the Village Head of Lamalera B, whereby he would be the one to visit
landing places each day and record data on amounts and types of mantas and whales caught per vessel.
Thus, 30 copies were left with the surveyor to be filled in during the following full year.
DNA samples were also collected at both sites. 30 test tubes containing parts of the stomach, the gills,
the tail, and the spine.
Stage III
Stage III activities involved mostly collecting the logbooks and receive feedback on the assessment
activities. Logbooks were entered on 27 family units and report on catches by Lamakera fishermen for
May - August 2003. Additionally 13 samples of stomach contents were taken and logbooks for the next
3 months period were distributed. General knowledge and attitudes towards the marine environment was
also assessed through simple interviews.
1
Collaboration with Indonesian Institute for Science and Technology (LIPI) is in progress

6. 6
Stage IV
Stage IV activities again involved mostly collection of the logbooks and checking of data.
Stage V
Logbooks were again collected that covered data from November 2003 to January 2004. Additionally,
some information was collected on occurrence and capture of Mola-mola or Oceanic Sunfish in the area.
Stage VI
From April 30-May 15 and June 3-17, 2004 the last trips was made to collect logbooks with catch data
and in-depth interviews were conducted to further complete historical information on the manta hunting.
In Lamalera 31 people were interviewed and 6 in Lamakera. As Lamalera is more remote and difficult
to access their methods and beliefs appear more traditional so for historical information more time was
spent here.
To verify and check information, two village meetings were held in Lamalera and one in Lamakera.
During those meetings the team has started discussions about the importance of preserving the
environment and managing the fisheries for long term sustainable economic benefits with community
members of the two sites and government members of Lembata district.
Results
Site description: Lamakera
Lamakera is a settlement consisting of two desa or villages namely Desa Motun Wutun and Desa
Watobuku. The two villages are in the territory of the kecamatan or subdistrict of East Solor in the
kabupaten or district of East Flores. The population of Lamakera consists of more than 1,000 people,
who have very low level of education, most of them only passed Elementary School. The Lamakera
people are original inhabitants of Solor and are adherents of the Islamic religion. The primary means of
livelihood of these locals is that of fishing, and so, they are categorized as primary or quintessential
fishermen since their everyday activities are centered on going to sea. This situation is supported by the
topographical condition of the island region of Solor particularly the eastern part, which, being barren
and unproductive, cannot be utilized as farm land by the people. Aside from the local people’s
profession as primary fishermen, other people work as traders selling their goods around and within the
villages, as carpenters, teachers and as merchant collectors of sea products.
The region has only 1 Elementary School building, whereas for junior and senior high school (SLTP and
SLTA) there are no facilities yet, such that, for the children to continue their studies, they have to go to
Mananga, the capital of the kecamatan of East Solor, or to Larantuka, the capital of the kabupaten of
East Flores. An Auxiliary Community Health Center or Pustu exists here, manned by two workers, a
midwife and a health worker, to see to the people’s health needs. The kind of illness frequently
occurring among the people is that of malaria. This is occasioned by the environment’s lack of
cleanliness, with the atmosphere pervaded by a stink resulting from disposal of the bones and other
remains of the rays and whales along the coast or in the yards of the local people.

7. 7
The only facility for religious services in Lamakera is a mosque. Information facilities existing in the
region (personal TV’s) are supported by only a few power generators owned privately or belonging to
the village government. As for public electricity from the State Electric Company (PLN), so far only the
hardware of poles and wires has been established, none is operational. Since the PLN is not yet at work
in the region, most of the people just use gas lamps or petromax. There are two telephone stands.
In meeting the need for clean water, the area has a number of wells belonging to the people but they are
used only for washing and bathing, whereas for drinking most people in Lamakera buy water from
Waiwerang which is on Adonara Island. Three times a week some Waiwerang businessmen bring in
water to Lamakera for sale to the people at a price of Rp. 2,000 for 3 pails. A measure taken by the local
government has been to install pipes going into the villages, but up to the present, this is not operations.
This situation has made the local people suffer from scarcity of clean water.
Site description: Lamalera
Lamalera (Figure 2) is a settlement consisting of two villages, namely Desa Lamalera A and Lamalera
B. The two desas are in the territory of Kecamatan Naga Wutun, Kabupaten Lembata. Lamalera A
consists of 190 families or family units (KK) made up of 786 individuals, whereas Lamalera B consists
of 206 KK comprising 767 individuals. Both desas are in the southern coast of Kabupaten Lembata.
Total number of inhabitants of Lamalera (meaning the two villages combined) comes to a total 1553
people, whose level of education is extremely low, most of them having just elementary school. A
majority of the Lamalera people is Christian Catholic, and they are primary or quintessential fishers.
Aside from going to sea, the people of Lamalera are already starting farming activities and grow cashew
nuts for example, particularly in their own yards.
Figure 2. Lamalera village (WWF-NT)
The area only has 1 elementary school building by Inpres (Presidential Instruction), 1 Catholic
elementary school building, and 1 junior high school (SMP) building. For the children to continue their
schooling to senior high school (SLTA), they have to go to the kecamatan capital which is Naga Wutun
or to Leoleba. For health services 1 Community Health Center or puskesmas building and 1 Auxiliary
Puskesmas building are available, there are 2 workers, a midwife and health worker.
The area also supports information equipment through power generators, some owned by the village
government and others privately owned. Public electricity from the PLN (State Electric Company) has
not yet reached this region.

8. 8
To meet the need for clean water for drinking, washing and bathing in the area, the government has
already installed pipes and these are operational. In support of tourism activities, there are 3 privately-
owned home-stay units, 2 community-owned and 1 home-stay government-owned.
Livelihood activities
The principal means of livelihood is fishing. Daily activities involve going to sea to meet family
requirements and other needs. Only a small section of the community engages in other activities such as
carpentry, masonry, trade, collection of sea products, etc. Their way of life is influenced by their history:
They are sea-going people since ages and their ancestors always handed down their knowledge and
skills to children and grandchildren. Furthermore, the topography of the region does not allow them to
engage in farming since the land is not fertile and the slopes are extremely steep. Agricultural activities
are only conducted by a small minority of the Lamalera people, who grow cashew nuts in their yards.
For Lamakera even that is not possible.
Balelang, the local name for manta in Lamaholot (local language of Lamalera) has been hunted for at
least five centuries, since the arrival of the Lamaleran ancestors in the village of Lamalera. Along with
the traditional whale hunting, it became the main traditional hunting activity for Lamalera. Every year
on May 1, the Lamalera people conduct a buka-lefa ceremony, a ceremony to open the year’s lefa
season. Lefa means ‘going to the sea’.
Fisheries techniques and vessels
Fishing gear used depends on the species targeted which are sardines, small mackerel, flying fish and
reef fish. Sailboats and motorboats are mostly used in these operations. However, when after rays and
whales, fishers use larger specialized gear such as spears and harpoons, bamboo and nylon string or rope
or one made from palm fronds. The spear is equipped with a harpoon head string made of nylon or
gebang fronds wound around a piece of bamboo and used for impaling the manta or pari fish or the
whale. Nylon dragnets can also catch rays. Boats used are special wooden whaling boats and 15-25 PK
motorboats.
Lamakera (in the villages of Motun Wutun and Watobuku) has about 200 boats of which 28 are
motorboats and 5 wooden whaleing boats or peledang. The rest are simple sailboats and dug-out canoes.
The fishers who specialize in hunting for rays and whales are from Motun Wutun village and they are
original inhabitants who have lived in the place since memory. Watobuku village on the other hand
consists of new arrivals not possessing expertise in catching rays and whales. They mostly apply lines
and dragnets and plaited rattan traps. Some are deck hands (ABK) for fishers of Moton Wutun.
Lamalera (the villages of Lamalera A and Lamalera B), has about 60 boats of which 23 are wooden
whaling boats, 7 motor boats (Johnson engines), and 30 units of dugout canoes. Here nearly all fishers
hunt for whales and rays, and only fish for coral fish and flying fish outside of the whale and ray season.
Table 1 provides types of gear deployed in each site and table 2 indicates target species for each gear.
Note that the same gear and boats are used in both sites however its relative importance differs slightly.

9. 9
Table 1. Fishing gear and vessels used in Lamakera and Lamalera.
No Lamakera and Lamalera
Gear type Boat type
1 Bait Motor Boat
2 String Dragnet/Shallow Water Dragnet Wooden Boats
3 Nylon Dragnet/Deep Water Dragnet Sail Boat
4 Spear Hand Boat
5 Harpoon Head Jukung
6 Rope From Gebang Palm Fronts/Nylon Motor Boat
7 Bamboo
8 Knife
9 Machete
Table 2. Function of each fishing gear
Gear type Function
Bait Equipment for baiting coral fish or basic/common ones
like Epinephelus spp. Plectropomus spp., tuna, shark, mac
etc
String dragnet /shallow-water dragnetEquipment for net in fish found in shallow water
Nylon dragnet/deep-water dragnet Equipment for netting fish species found in deep water
Spear/harpoon head Equipment for spearing rays and whales
String/rope made of gebang fronds Equipment for pulling in rays and whales
Bamboo Equipment to hold the harpoon head when the fisherman
impales the rays or whales
Knife Tool for stabbing/cutting up the rays or whales when
already caught
Machete Tool for stabbing/cutting up the rays or whales when
already caught
Time and location of operations
Fishing occurs every day between April and November but when the tides are strong and the western
wind season occurs from December to March activities slow down. When the current is strong, most of
the fishermen are on the sea to hunt for fish products. Most whales and rays are caught from May to
November, which coincides with the hot season so that products from the rays and whales such as meat,
skin, bones, and gills can then be preserved by drying in the sun (Table 3). Furthermore it also follows
the tradition to have special traditional ceremonies and a Mass every 1st of May particularly in
Lamalera. Nevertheless, from December to April, Lamalera fishermen continue to catch whales if these
pass through their waters. This does not violate predetermined adat or rules of tradition for the people of
Lamalera designate those months as hunting months and refer to them as Baleo, whereas the annual
whale catching season is officially from May to November. The people of Lamakera do not hold adat
ceremonies as their culture is gradually declining fading away.

10. 10
There is an overlap between Lamalera and Lamakera for manta hunting grounds in Lewotobi, East
Flores (Figure 3). Occasionally the two villages argue as both have differing perceptions about the
hunting rights in that location. For Lamalera people, if a manta is sighted it belongs to them. For people
from Lamakera, this is not a determining factor, rather anyone who hunts after it and can catch it has the
same right to it. This difference caused problems in the past yet more recently the villagers try to resolve
disputes more relaxed. Aside from the area of Lewotobi, there is no overlap in hunting grounds.
Lamakera people hunt mostly in the straits of Flores, Solor and Lamakera; whereas the Lamalera people
hunt in front of their village, as far as Naga Cape (south-west tip of Lembata) and Atadei Cape (south-
east tip of Lembata). In October people from Lamalera also go to Pantar to catch manta and dolphins.
Lamalera hunters basically sail ‘as far as we can still see the land’. On trips where the team joined, they
sailed within 4 nautical miles off shore, though sometimes they sailed further south.
TRADITIONAL MANTA RAY HUNTING
GROUND IN SOLOR AND LEMBATA
Koteklema
terdampar
Koteklema
terdampar
Peternakan
mutiara
Lamalera
Lamalera’s hunting areasLamakera’s
hunting areas
Lewotobi, Aug
Lamakera and
Lamalera)
Pantar, Oct
(only Lamalera)
Figure 3. Hunting grounds (by Putu Liza).
Table 3. Time and Location for Fish Catching Operations
Products targete Lamakera Lamalera
Products SoughtTime Location Time Location
Whales May - November Sea area around 1. December to AprSea area around Sawu
(4 o'clock at dawn to Sawu and Tiga Island 2. May - NovemberLeotobi, Duli, Bobo an
6 o'clock in the eveninand in front of ESolor(7 a.m. – 6 in front of Lamalera
Manta/rays/ May - November Sea area around May - November Sea area around Sawu
Pari Sawu and Tiga Island and in front of East
and in front ESolor Lamalera
Flying fish January - December Sea area around January - DecemberSea area around Sawu
Sawu and Tiga Island and in front of East
and in front ESolor Lamalera
Coral fish January - December In front of Solor, January - DecemberIn front of Lembata
Waiwerang, Lembata
Setting of fish Hot season In front of Solor,
traps Waiwerang, Lembata

11. 11
Catches
Local communities utilize both fish and other sea creatures as snails and sea cucumber (Table 4). Most
important targets however are the whales, rays and dolphins (Table 5 and Figure 4).
Table 4. Products Utilized by Fishermen of Lamakera and Lamalera
Cetaceans and dolphins Big Fish Non-Fish
Sperm whales (kota klema) Sunu fish Sea slugs
Dwarf sperm whales (feta kumu) Kerapu or grouper fish Snails
Short finned guide whales (temu bela) Tuna fish Lobster
Killer whales (seguni) Large snapper/emperors Turtles
False killer whales (temu bia) Small/large hose fish
Stunted killer whales (temu kembung) Large/small stone fish
Melon head whales (temu kembong) Flying fish
Curved beak whales (ikan mea) Bedu fish
Long beaked dolphins (temu kira) Scads
Freckled dolphins (temu kira) Mullets
Grey dolphins Tuna
Fraser dolphins (temu nontong) Skipjack
Sharks
Moku rays (Mobula sp)
Mbou rays (Mobula Taracapana)
Belelang rays (Manta birostris)
Table 5. Catches of Rays and Whales in Lamalera since 1996. Source: Data Recorded by Mr. Frans
Keraf (a teacher and fisherman by profession). Note season for 2004 still ongoing at time of survey.
Manta Whales "moku"
(Mobula
sp)
"bou"
(Mobula
Tarapac
ana)
"kebeku"
other ray
"temub"
other ray
"kiko"
other
ray
1996 25 5 105 4 5 6 3
1997 51 10 208 17 22 16 10
1998 62 23 45 37 5 4 25
1999 60 4 29 73 2 27 4
2000 24 38 14 26
2001 14 17 44 19 1 2 3
2002 16 23 14 18 115 15 19
2003 98 52 40 24 23 9
2004 4 17 23 1

12. 12
0
50
100
150
200
250
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
Totalnumbercaught
Manta
Whales
"moku" ray
"bou" ray
"kebeku" ray
"temub" ray
"kiko" ray
Figure 4. Annual catch of manta’s whales and other rays in Lamalera
Catches in Lamalera are relative small compared to catches in Lamakera. The Lamalera catch logbooks
from May 2003- April 2004 show that a total of 42 manta’s, 55 other rays, 9 whales and 13 dolphins
were caught by the 23 boats that reported with maximum of 10 mantas during this period (one boat) and
others mostly between 1-7 for this entire period. The Lamakera logbooks for this same period of May
2003 – April 2004 show totals of 428 manta’s, 247 other rays, 2 whales and 12 dolphins. For Lamakera
30 boats contributed to these reported catches with a maximum for this period of 35 manta’s in one boat
and the others between 5 and 20 manta’s for this entire period.
Most of the catches both for Lamakera and Lamalera are realized during May-August (Figure 5), with
the difference that most large catches for Lamalera are realized in May and June.
Lamakera 2003-2004
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
M
ay
June
JulyAugust
Septem
berO
ctober
N
ovem
ber
D
ecem
berJanuaryFebruaryM
arch
April
Month
Totalnumbercaught
Manta
Mobula Tarapacana
Mobula sp
Whales
Dolphins
Figure 5. Seasonality in catches for Lamakera

13. 13
Other appealing wild life caught in the area – Mola mola or Oceanic Sunfish
There are indications that the waters of this area could be important for Oceanic Sunfish or Mola mola.
The team also collected some information on this from the fishers from Lamakera. The species is locally
described as Ka’beku. According to the community in Lamakera the Mola mola looks as follows:
• Round body
• Color is white to grey
• Has no tail
• Has one fin dorsal
• Has two “sayap”
• Skin on top and on left and right ride very thick
• Skin in ventral section thin
• Meat is white and smooth
• Has no teeth like other fish
• Is about 1 – 1 ½ meter long with a weight of about 100 – 200 kg/fish
They also observe it, usually in the area between the strait of Lamakera, strait of Solor, Three islands,
Tanuung Suba strait of Leotobi and the Sawu sea. Here they observe and catch the species around the
same time as they capture whale and manta ray. According to the people interviewed this fish is not a
target species for spear fishing, but when they see one, they will hunt it. This fish usually comes close to
the surface in April-October each year but sometimes from November-March as well. They believe that
normally Mola-Mola stays in deep water but it will not go as deep as the sea bottom but will exist in the
midwater and sometimes surface. This fish, when caught, is only for self consumption it is not sold and
normally the meat is distributed between all boat crew members or the people on the beach because they
do not really like the taste that much and only parts are consumed. The fish is eaten raw, cooked or
made into sambal.
According to the community there are some indicators that Mola-mola will surface near their village and
they know this when the ocean gets quiet, there are no waves but then there are a series of high waves. If
this happens sometimes the villagers get ready to the sea to catch one.
Normally this fish is difficult to catch as it plays and swims and turns its body. When the fish surfaces
with its body skewed the fishers throw the spear. They try to hit it on either side. The total catch from
May 2003- April 2004 was 8 fish in Lamakera and 10 in Lamalera.
Processing and Marketing processes
Simple processing of the catch is done locally and involves mostly drying under the sun of ray meat and
whale meat, ray gills, the skin and stomach. Only after drying are these products sold or bartered. Reef
fish and pelagic products are sold fresh or consumed. It takes at least a month to dry a block of manta
meat under intense heat (Figure 6). If it is raining, the people cover the meat to avoid decay.

14. 14
Figure 6. Manta meat before and after drying (by Putu Liza).
Most people of Lembata sell their catch at the Waiwerang market on Adonara Island and in Larantuka.
Additionally, they also sell to middlemen or papaleles or to collecting traders who visit their villages,
and these collectors sell it at farther markets. Ray meat and ray gills are sold directly to a special
collecting trader who sells to Surabaya and Jakarta. The price of gills is so high that Lamakera people
hunt for rays more than for other kinds of fish. Lamalera fishers however, sell their rays and whale
products by barter system, exchanging them for root crops, peas and beans, corn, bananas, etc. Places
for bartering are the neighboring villages in the interior regions. The market is located in Wulandoni, the
district town 1.5 hours walking eastward through the hills or an hour by boat. The housewives usually
trade. Table 6 provides indications of prices.
Table 6. Prices per type of product obtained by fishers in the two sites
Kinds of Fish Lamakera Lamalera
Sell Barter Sell Barter
Small hose fish Rp. 600/kg - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Large hose fish Rp. 2,000/kg - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Large stone fish Rp. 2,500/kg - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Small stone fish Rp. 250/head - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Flying fish Rp. 1,500/kg - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Bedu fish Rp. 500/head - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Tembang fish Rp. 150/head - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Belanak fish Rp. 2,500/kg - Rp. 1,000 - 1,500/kg -
Rays Rp. 850,000 - Bartered
Dried rays meat Rp. 30,000/a. string - -
Fresh rays skin Rp. 10,000/kg - -
Dried rays meat Rp. 50,000/kg - -
(after processing with
chemicals)
Fresh white rays Rp. 35,000/kg - -
gills Rp. 20.000/kg
Dried white rays gills Rp. 150,000/kg - -
Fresh black rays Rp. 40,000/kg - -
Gills
Dried black rays gills Rp. 200,000/kg - -
Whales Sold Bartered Bartered

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The targets most sought after are the whales and the manta rays, whereas hunting for smaller fish can
only be done during the season when the catch of whales and rays decreases. The target products fetch
high prices for Lamakera fishers, compared to those procured by Lamalera fishermen who for the most
part use their catch for consumption or dispose of it by barter. The most probably reason for this
difference is the access to good transport between Solor where Lamakera is located and Lamalera.
The marketing of products involves generally 3 steps: from the first hand of the fisher to the
middleman/collector and hence to the customer mostly in Jakarta. Table 7 gives some indication of
prices at the middlemen and consumers end.
Table 7. Market Price and the Selling Prices of Rays and Shark Fins
Parts of The Rays Sold Marketing System
Collecting Traders Jakarta Price / kg
Price / kg
White gills Rp. 35,000 Rp. 295,000
Black gills Rp. 40,000 Rp. 320,000
Skins Rp. 5,000 Rp. 11,000
Bones Rp. 7,000 Rp. 17,500
Wings Rp. 75,000 Rp. 250,000
Large rays/the tail Rp. 400,000 -500,00
(only its meat)
Small rays/the tail Rp. 250,000 - 300,00
(only its meat)
Note that the fleshy part of the rays is marketed only in local markets such as those of Waiwerang and
Larantuka at a price of Rp 45,000/string (= 20 pieces). Aside from being marketed, ray meat is also
traded through barter. Other products are sold in Jakarta:
• Shark fins, one set, Rp1,000,000/kg. in local markets and Rp 1,200,000/kg in Jakarta markets.
• Sea cucumber (teripang):
• “Milk” / koro, Rp 50,000 / kg. (with the salt content eliminated).
• “Pineapple”, Rp 70,000 / kg. at local markets and Rp. 130,000 / kg. in Jakarta.
• “Jepung”, Rp 70,000 / kg at local markets and Rp 150,000 / kg. in Jakarta.
• Teripang, peeled, Rp 100,000 / kg. at local markets and Rp 250,000/Kg in Jakarta.
• Teripang, “penggama”, Rp 70.000 / kg at local markets and Rp 205,000 / kg. in Jakarta.
A collector informant explained that the fishing community in Lamakera still thinks in traditional terms,
only depending on their whale and rays catches and not yet thinking in long-range terms regarding
business opportunities and challenges for the future. He himself has plans for future development of
sites for cultivation of sea cucumber or sea weed, but this has so far been constrained by there being no
technical body to give training or extension counseling to the community. Aside from the above-
mentioned kinds of fish being caught by community people, there are also species traded that are
protected by law. The informant noted that materials specifying these protected and prohibited biota
would be useful to distribute to enhance understanding and awareness on this matter.

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Status and threat assessment of the manta population around Lamakera and Lamalera
Mantas are exploited and the relative high number of animals caught especially in Lamakera is likely a
reason for concern. Furthermore, marine debris (ghost net), long-lines and blast fishing also may pose
threats to manta rays. Long-lines operated in the Savu Sea are supposed to maintain the distance of 6
miles (for boats below 60 GT) or 12 miles (for boats larger than 60 GT) from the shore (Tribawono,
2002) where they interact with manta populations. Local fishers mention how they sometimes cut long-
lines from outside operators as these also catch large marine fauna.
Of these threats to the manta population, the local government has tried to address the by-catch in long-
lines and the possible impacts from blast fishing by providing a patrol boat called ‘Torani 2’. It is
especially designed for heavy weather and current of southern Lembata, and was designed to harbor in
Wulandoni (Narek, 2004, pers.comm.). The practical operation of this vessel however appears low and it
is harbored in Lewoleba, the capital of Lembata up northwest, and used to transport Lembata officers.
Discussion and Recommendations
A more comprehensive socio-economic valuation of the manta harvesting in this area is ongoing and
will probably be finished around October 2004, from the assessment some conclusions can be drawn:
1. Manta ray hunting in Lamalera (Lembata Island) is closer to what can be described as traditional
hunting. Food security in Lamalera is low, thus any conservation programs (to protect manta or
marine mammals) must address this issue properly.
2. Manta ray hunting in Lamakera (Solor Island) is more commercial hunting. Food security is less
of a problem, if there would be restrictions to manta hunting.
3. DNA research must still be conducted to provide further answers critical to assess the
importance of the area for mantas and tagging experiments are proposed to understand more
about migration patterns and home ranges.
As previously considered in the Alor and Solor expedition report, one of the greatest challenges for
marine ecosystems in the Asia and the Pacific centers on developing sustainable practices in artisanal
fisheries. One common misconception is that these smaller-scale fisheries are insignificant from an
ecological perspective and as a result most international effort has centered on industrial fisheries. The
artisanal fisheries seldom receive the attention of fisheries researchers, and technically expensive
approaches such as stock-assessment models are not pragmatic. In most locations there is little effort by
governments to monitor or regulate these fisheries. Despite their small relative size, there is the potential
for large-scale environmental damage through over fishing or destructive fishing practices. Both the live
food fish and ornamental fish trades in the Indo Pacific are tragic examples of this. If artisanal fisheries
continue unchecked there is the real potential for large-scale collapse of marine coastal communities
though out the developing world. What is needed is a new approach to fisheries management in these
areas, a system that builds local capacity and works with the fishing communities to develop
management plans and maximize sustainable economic gains.
Ongoing manta ray research must be integrated with community involvement in management and
biological data collection. The fishermen and dive operators would be integral partners. Immediate
attention to this fishery is critical; there are indications that manta ray fisheries have increased in the last

17. 17
few years to meet the demands of an emerging Asian market for the dried gill-rakers. Historically
fishermen took approximately 50-150 mantas per year, now the catch is closer to 500.
The manta fisheries in Eastern Indonesia are an ideal system for initiating a program that can be
emulated in other regions. First, we are already working with fishermen to collect important catch and
biological data. Second, the fishery is relatively simple involving only two villages and one species.
Third, the product is distributed through one local merchant with whom we also have a relationship.
Fourth, there is an ongoing TNC/PIER research program focusing on manta rays in the Indonesia
Archipelago. Some conceptual ideas for follow up have been drafted below.
Community program
Staff from the WWF in partnership with others would work with the local leaders, distributors of
products, fishermen and diver operators. The key to this approach is providing the local stakeholders
with the conceptual tools and guidance on how to make their own resource decisions. The community
program would consist of a number of different elements:
• Community education program on basic manta biology, and sustainable fisheries.
• Develop a “manta tax” where by fishermen and local diver operators contribute a part of their
revenue to a community fund to improve local services. This will help them to realize the
advantages of sustainability. Part of the revenues can support secondary school and university
grants awarded to students interested in marine or fisheries science.
• Community based catch surveys and collection of biological data to determine catch per unit effort
necessary to monitor the status of the fisheries and set catch limits.
• Establishing community-youth group, a reef guardian team, with major responsibility for
monitoring the reefs and looking for occurrence of destructive fishing practices.
• Monitoring of adjacent villages to determine if the fishery spreads.
• Initiate responsible manta watching activities by training dive operators in manta-friendly practices
and lobbying for establishment of code-of-conduct type best practices with regional and local
government agencies issuing and surveying licenses.
• Careful tracking of the steps taken in developing the program and its expense for later improvement.
Research program
The community-based work would be coupled to the ongoing manta research program in the region to
obtain additional data critical for determining the structure of any management plan and the associated
catch limits. The information necessary for this assessment on seasonal movements, behaviors, habitat
preference, basic biology, and home range are not available. The research program would employ
innovating remote sensing technologies, including satellite and acoustic telemetry to address these
questions. Although trained scientists would conduct much of this work, the community would be
included in the research effort when possible. For example, we would work with the fishermen to collect
plankton samples where the mantas occur. The goals of the research program are three fold:
1) Examine habitat preferences of manta rays including tides, temperature and prey.
2) Monitor community composition as the abundance of manta rays changes.
3) Study the movements and population structure through out the Indo-Pacific.

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Sustainable Fisheries Management Plan - MPAs
Science proofs that to ensure sustainable fisheries working to design, establish and effectively
implement marine protected areas with stakeholders is critical if fisheries collapse is to be prevented. A
well-placed MPA in the Alor and Solor area would be an important part of solutions and strategies to
maintain the importance of the area for its people and its coastal and marine natural resources.
Sustainable development
In the current era of economic development and enhanced technology and transport, the Solor and Alor
area is increasingly looked upon as a major priority and opportunity for business development. It is
important to engage conservationists and sociologists in the development process to ensure that both the
ecologic and cultural richness of the area and its people will not be lost in the process. In this context an
important opportunity can be the potential for environmentally sound marine tourism ventures, such as
responsible whale and manta watching – possibly an alternative, non-consumptive and sustainable
activity involving marine mammals. Traditional knowledge and experience would be a very valuable
asset for such ventures.
Concluding remark
The Alor region is a hotspot for a wide array of cetaceans and other large marine life, including manta
rays, (leatherback) marine turtles, billfish, tuna, mola mola, whale sharks and other pelagics. This
extraordinary species list is possibly the result of the region’s function as a migratory bottleneck of
regional significance and its productive currents and deep-water upwelling. However, the concentration
of marine resources also makes the region also highly vulnerable to increasingly modern and extensive
fisheries pressures that target large migratory marine life and high valued fish stocks for export
illustrated by the reef damage resulting from large-scale blast fishing and the low abundance of high-
valued fish. Hence, continued and expanded conservation efforts are needed urgently in Alor to a)
safeguard the exceptional marine life and coastal and marine ecosystems in this remote part of eastern
Indonesia and b) assist with the identification and implementation of sustainable development options.
Existing strong feelings of ownership and responsibility at the villages on the eastern small islands of
Ternate, Buaya and Pura could be utilized to engage local communities in some initial management
activities, establishing no-take areas at important fish spawning sites on their reefs, and the high rates of
manta exploitation calls for action engaging the fishers in Lamakera in strategies to reduce catches.
References
- Putu Liza Musima Mustika, 2004. Manta rays in Lamalera (Lembata Island) and Lamakera (Solor Island):
traditional knowledge, threat analysis and management options. A report for the WWF Nusa Tengara Program.
- Barnes, R. H. (1996). Sea Hunters of Indonesia: Fishers and Weavers of Lamalera. New York: Oxford
University Press.
- IUCN. (2004). The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species [online]. IUCN. Available from
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php?species=39417 [25 June 2004].
- Tribawono, D. (2002). Hukum Perikanan Indonesia. Bandung: Citra Aditya Bakti.