Annually FPMM Scientists present in excess of 150 talks to audiences of international and domestic visitors, schools, teachers, university students and government officials within Mozambique. Collectively our lead scientists also fulfil nearly 20 annual lecturing requests at conferences and events around the globe. The FPMM play a key scientific advisory role to a range of independent and industry organisations. The Associaçao dos Mergulhadores Activos para os Recursos marinhos (AMAR) represents the SCUBA diving industry within Mozambique and for the past five years, our scientists have tailored specific presentations for university students on the annual dias de mar guolios. Together with Sangue Bom, a local film production company, they have produced educational videos and materials outlining the appropriate code of conduct to manage encounters with manta rays and whale sharks. These have helped dive centres to run more effectively and to promote the importance of sustainable ecotourism practices.

Work with NGO Ocean Revolution has helped to facilitate a joint effort with Bitonga Divers, a local Mozambican diving and conservation association. This collaboration is currently educating rural coastal communities about their rich marine resources and the research that we are conducting. We are also promoting vocational training schemes through some of the local dive centres in the aim to make diving more accessible to local people.

At the research centre, we are actively engaging children along the coastline through the development of ‘kid friendly’ materials in order to raise awareness of coastal conservation issues. Following the construction of our size line (photo), we continue to update display material in addition to facilitating regular beach clean ups and talks to local children. Through the current development of a kids’ page on our website, we aim to introduce manta rays and whale sharks in a fun and friendly way whilst providing up-to-date information about their biology. It will include content based activities, explanations into the how and why of current research, as well as an accessible link for students to directly question our scientists.

To ensure a healthy future for Mozambique’s incredible megafauna, it is essential that we broaden our educational facilities on both a national and international scale. Our intention is to develop a mobile education unit, which would enable us to reach more remote communities, extending upon this further we would also like to develop permanent interactive visitor’s centre at Tofo Beach. Beyond this, FPMM has the vision of producing educational, marine focused materials tailored specifically for provincial schools leading hopefully to a nationwide scholastic program in Mozambique. Promoting greater distribution and access to our film footage, such as ‘Andrea: Queen of Mantas’ to schools both here and around the world, is also an important aim of our program. Education at all levels is critical to ensure a greater appreciation of these gentle giants and the imminent need for their worldwide protection.