Drivers of recreational scuba divers' willingness to pay for an Incentive-Based Ray Conservation Program

• Grant number: 25/22166-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Fabio dos Santos Motta
• Grantee: Caio Ribeiro Pimentel
• Supervisor: Eleanor Jane Milner-Gulland
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Oxford, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/15345-8 - Scientific Basis for the Development of a Payment for Marine Environmental Services Program Focused on Ray Conservation and the Management of Artisanal Fisheries in the State of São Paulo, BP.PD

Abstract

Rays play an essential ecological role as mesopredators and serve as an important food source for many coastal communities. Some of them are also highly valued by recreational divers worldwide (e.g. manta rays). Despite their ecological and socio-economic importance, rays are under increasing threat from overfishing and bycatch, particularly in small-scale operations such as beach seine fishing. Consequently, around 36% of ray species worldwide are currently at risk of extinction. Brazil is no exception, with many species also classified as threatened and their capture and trade being legally prohibited. However, command-and-control approaches tend to be rigid and often fail to engage local communities effectively. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) have emerged as a promising alternative, offering economic incentives for practices that support biodiversity through a more socially just approach. As a growing segment of marine ecotourism, recreational diving holds significant potential for financing conservation. The objective of this study is to assess the willingness of recreational divers to pay for the implementation of an incentive-based ray release programme integrated with artisanal fisheries along the São Paulo coast, southeastern Brazil. Questionnaires were applied to divers in three marine protected areas under different contexts and management regimes. The demographic and socio-economic profiles of the divers, their diving experience, and any prior sightings of rays were recorded. The findings will provide critical baseline data to inform the design of a locally grounded marine PES scheme for ray conservation. (AU)