Mozambique Projects.
Manta & Devil Rays
What’s this project about?
Building on two decades of manta and devil ray research in Mozambique, MMF is studying the movement ecology of these species to determine their critical habitats and home range, while identifying and mapping anthropogenic threats to inform our conservation efforts.
We work with government and management authorities to identify and mitigate threats, protect areas of core habitat, and implement conservation projects. With satellite research centers and partners strategically positioned along the Mozambican coast, our team manages a province-wide monitoring program for manta and mobula rays.
Key successes to date
MMF’s extensive research and lobbying in Mozambique was a major factor that led to the legal protection of manta and devil rays by the Mozambican government in January 2021.
MMF’s manta ray photo-ID databases are the largest and longest-running in Africa.
MMF researchers have authored 15 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 2 PhD theses and 2 Masters’ theses on manta rays and devil rays in Mozambique.
MMF has contributed to the current management plans for several marine protected areas, including the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique, part of the Bazaruto Seascape.
Latest Manta & Devil Ray press releases
Highlighting MMF’s research & conservation work within the Bazaruto Seascape.
Project Overview.
Southern Mozambique is a global center of abundance for manta rays, the largest of the devil ray species (the Mobula genus). Over the last 20 years, we have documented the largest identified populations of both giant and reef manta rays in Africa. Both species aggregate in the south of the country, with the highest sightings recorded along the coast of the Inhambane Province.
This coast also provides important breeding, feeding, and cleaning areas for devil rays Mobula kuhlii, another endangered relative. With a sharp increase in the use of indiscriminate fishing methods, such as gill nets, unsustainable numbers of mantas and devil rays are being caught in Mozambique.
Manta & Devil Rays in Mozambique
MMF scientists have published extensively on the biology and ecology of manta rays in Mozambique, aiding in regional management efforts and in the conservation of these species across the globe. Our team continues to identify critical habitats for mobula species in Mozambique where we can then design and implement targeted conservation activities.
Urgent Conservation Efforts are Needed
MMF researchers have noted up to a 98% decline in sightings of manta and devil ray species over the past decade, highlighting the urgent need for targeted management strategies. With the increasing demand for devil ray products conflicting with a valuable marine ecotourism industry in Mozambique, it is imperative to continue identifying and protecting critical habitats and managing the anthropogenic threats along this coast.
Objectives.
The next phase of MMF’s long-term manta and devil ray research program is now working to reverse the declining trend for devil rays in Mozambique. We are assisting the national government and managers of protected areas, such as those in the Bazaruto Seascape, to identify and eliminate threats, protect areas of core habitat, and implement conservation strategies.
We are also continuing to monitor manta and devil ray populations to refine abundance estimates and trends by using telemetry, aerial surveys, genetic and biochemical analyses to understand their distribution and behavior along the Mozambique coast.
Project Leaders.
Dr Andrea Marshall
Principal Scientist
Andrea has been conducting research on marine megafauna in Mozambique for 20 years, with an emphasis on sharks and rays. As a conservation biologist she focuses predominantly on research questions related to the effective management and conservation of threatened species.
Anna Flam, MSc.
Research Manager
Anna is MMF’s research manager in Tofo Beach. She also manages the Thailand/Myanmar manta ray database and serves as the global coordinator for MantaMatcher. Anna’s work involves collecting vital information on shark and ray population size, structure, and connectivity, which is used to guide the development of effective management and conservation strategies.
Dr Stephanie Venables
Senior Scientist
Stephanie has been working with MMF since 2014. Her research involves applying different research techniques as conservation tools, using methods such as telemetry (tagging), population genetics, and demographic modeling to better understand species and the way they interact with their environment.
Nakia Cullain, MSc.
Nakia is a marine ecologist who has been working in Mozambique in 2016 as the director of the Zavora Marine Lab. She joined the MMF team in 2020. Nakia leads various research projects in Zavora, with a particular focus on sharks and rays. Her main objective is to improve marine conservation and management of marine resources in Mozambique through the investigation of artisanal and industrial fishing and its impacts on threatened species.
Publications
Stephanie Venables, Andrea Marshall, Amelia Armstrong, Joseph Tomkins, Jason Kennington WJ (2020) Genome-wide SNPs detect no evidence of genetic population structure for reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in southern Mozambique. Heredity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-020-00373-x
Stephanie Venables, Daniel Van Duinkerken, Christopher Rohner, Andrea Marshall (2020) Habitat use and movements patterns of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in southern Mozambique. Marine Ecology Progress Series 634: 99-114 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13178
Stephanie Venables, Andrea Marshall, Elitza Gemanov, Robert Perryman, Ricardo Tapilatu, Gede Hendrawan, Anna Flam, Mike van Keulen, Joseph Tomkins, Jason Kennington (2019) It is not all black and white: investigating colour polymorphism in manta rays across Indo-Pacific populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 286: 20191879 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1879
Stephanie Venables, Giles Winstanley, Libby Bowles & Andrea Marshall (2016) A giant opportunity: the economic impact of manta rays on the Mozambican tourism industry - an incentive for increased management and protection. Tourism in Marine Environments. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427316X693225
Chris Rohner, Simon Pierce, Andrea Marshall, Scarla Weeks, Mike Bennett & Anthony Richardson (2013) Trends in sightings and environmental influences on a coastal aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 482: 153–168.
Lydie Couturier, Chris Rohner, Anthony Richardson, Simon Pierce, Andrea Marshall, Fabrice Jaine, Kathy Townsend, Mike Bennett, Scarla Weeks & Peter Nichols (2013) Unusually high levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in whale sharks and reef manta rays, Lipids.
Lydie Couturier, Chris Rohner, Anthony Richardson, Andrea Marshall, Fabrice Jaine, Mike Bennett, Kathy Townsend, Scarla Weeks & Peter Nichols (2013) Stable isotope and signature fatty acid analyses suggest reef manta rays feed on demersal zooplankton, PLoS ONE 8(10): e77152.
Chris Town, Andrea Marshall & Nutthaporn Sethasathien (2013) Manta Matcher: automated photographic identification of manta rays using keypoint features. Journal of Applied Ecology DOI 10.1002/ece3.587.
Tom Kashawagi, Andrea Marshall, Mike Bennett & Jennifer Ovenden (2012) The genetic signature of recent speciation in manta rays (Manta alfredi and M. birostris) Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 212-218.
Andrea Marshall, Christine Dudgeon & Mike Bennett (2011) Size and structure of a photographically identified population of manta rays Manta alfredi in southern Mozambique. Marine Biology 158(5): 1111.
Tom Kashiwagi, Andrea Marshall, Mike Bennett & Jennifer Ovenden (2011) Habitat segregation and mosaic sympatry of the two species of manta ray in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: Manta alfredi and M. birostris. Marine Biodiversity Records 4, e53.
Andrea Marshall & Mike Bennett (2010) Reproductive ecology of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in southern Mozambique. Journal of Fish Biology 77: 169-190.
Andrea Marshall & Mike Bennett MB (2010) Investigation of shark predation on Manta alfredi off the coast of Mozambique using bite mark analysis. South African Journal of Marine Science 32(3).
Andrea Marshall, Leonard Compagno & Mike Bennett (2009) Redescription of genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft,1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae). Zootaxa 2301: 1–28.
Andrea Marshall, Simon Pierce & Mike Bennett (2008) Morphological measurements of manta rays (Manta birostris) with a description of a foetus from the east coast of Southern Africa. Zootaxa 1717: 24-30.
Infographics
A Giant Opportunity: Manta Ray Tourism in Mozambique
Acoustic Telemetry reveals critical habitat & movement of manta rays in Mozambique
DNA reveals connectivity of reef manta rays along the south-east African coast
Media
Manta rays tracked using underwater 'listening stations' | Oceanographic
Listening Stations Track Manta Movement | Dive Magazine
