The gestation period is 13 months and only 1 or 2 pups are born every 2-4 years. Why Manta Rays Need Protection: Their Slow Reproduction Rate Pregnant female manta rayįemales reach sexual maturity at 10-15 years. We’ll dive deeper into that matter below. Most policies protect both species, one specific policy does not. While pelagic manta rays grow over 22 feet (7m). These fish can grow up to 14 feet wide (5 m) (like Big Bertha ). Although they may swim inshore at times.Īs the name suggests it, reef manta rays stay close to the reef.įor instance, the mantas we encounter often on the West Coast of Hawaii are the reef manta rays. Pelagic manta rays live in the pelagic zone of the ocean – neither close to the bottom nor near the shore. Giant (aka pelagic or oceanic) mantas ( Mobula birostris ).Two Species of Manta Rays, Two Types of Policies In the following article, we’ll talk about the threats we can protect the manta rays from, exploring policies on a local level (here in Hawaii), national level (in the United States) and global level – and we’ll talk about steps that have been taken towards putting guidelines and legislation in place that will protect them from harm. Additionally, there’s a difference between a “threatened” species and an “endangered” species. There are different species of mantas to distinguish between. Manta rays are a threatened species, but there is a lot more to it.