Raja Ampat Wayag Lagoon is the place where manta rays are magnified in the world

The Wayag Lagoon in Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua Province was announced as the world's first scientifically confirmed breeding location for manta rays.

"This was announced at the International Seminar on How Effective is the Management of Marine Protected Areas Beneficial for Manta Ray Conservation and Tourism in Jakarta October 2022 by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries," said the Regional Public Service Agency (BLUD UPTD) ) Management of the Raja Ampat Islands Marine Conservation Area at the Marine and Fisheries Service of West Papua Province, Safri in Sorong, Friday.

He added that this added to the list of successes of the West Papua Province through the Marine Fisheries Service, in this case the BLUD UPTD for the Management of the Raja Ampat Islands Water Conservation Area, which has been managing community-based conservation areas.

In a separate statement, the Director General of Marine Spatial Management of the KKP Inspector General of Police Drs. Victor Gustaaf Manoppo said that the manta coral population in Raja Ampat is growing at around eight percent per year since 2009.

It is said that this is the first and only manta population worldwide that has been reported to grow and develop rapidly and well. The success of the management of conservation areas in the waters of the Raja Ampat Islands and the Surrounding Seas managed by the DKP of West Papua Province through the BLUD UPTD has proven to provide benefits for both the preservation of marine biodiversity and the improvement of the livelihoods of the surrounding communities.
 
"This success is a special gift for West Papua Province, which is now 23 years old as a conservation province in Indonesia," he said

Head of the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) Prof. Charlie Danny Heatubun expressed his gratitude for all the support from the central government and the community so that the province is able to carry out conservation for the community's economy and the future of the region. He also gave his appreciation to indigenous peoples and all conservation organizations that focus on the Raja Ampat area so that they can become famous in the eyes of the world.

SOURCE : https://mataram.antaranews.com/berita/230525/laguna-wayag-raja-ampat-place-pembesar-pari-manta-di-dunia