Australian Craft Beer to Help Manta Rays
iStockMantas are close relatives of sharks; they must keep moving to keep water flowing over their gills, which means they can never stop to sleep or rest.
A new Australian beer has been created to help one of scuba divers' favorite animals, the manta ray.
As slow-moving filter feeders, rays are easy targets, according to Project AWARE. According to data collections by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mobulid landings have increased over the past decade. As with shark landings, the reported Mobulid landings only account for a small fraction of the actual number of mortalities related to fishing. Old and new markets for meat and other ray products such as gill plates — the tight-knit, feathery structures they use to strain plankton and small fish — threaten the survival of all rays.
Courtesy BargaraBargara Ray XPA has been created to draw attention to the plight of manta rays.
The newest venture of Bargara Brewing Company — along with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and research group Project Manta to spread the word about manta rays.
Lady Elliot Island is known as the "home of the manta ray” and has been recognized by PADI as one of the top five places in the world to scuba dive with rays.
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort works closely with #ProjectManta, which has identified more than 1000 individual manta rays off the east coast of Australia through their ongoing photo collaboration process.
So how does a handcrafted beer from Bargara Brewing Company help this project?
According to CEO Jack Milbank, the release of Ray XPA will raise awareness of the rays.
"By getting an amazing beer into the hands of thousands of local and international consumers that raises awareness of our pristine, yet delicate reef and the sea life that depend on and call it home, is very powerful,” Milbank said. "Every beer label encourages consumers to get behind #ProjectManta and will educate people about the importance that the Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants play for the future of the planet.”
Milbank says Ray XPA, an extra pale ale (5.0% abv), is a new world style of beer. "It accentuates a sub-tropical flavor through its use of specially selected hops exhibiting delicate notes of grapefruit, honeydew melon and kafir lime.”
Managing director and custodian of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Peter Gash said the project collaboration will have many benefits. "It is important that we support local businesses in our region, so we are pleased to be on board with the Bargara Brewing Company with Ray XPA,” he said.
Sadly, the beer isn't available for shipping to the U.S., but if you book a stay at the resort, you can enjoy a brew after the day's diving with the rays.
Email Bargara Brewing Company for more information.
