Research · Conservation

Monthly Update for June

June 1, 20244 min read

This month, new divers were certified and a new school building took shape in Mozambique, the Florida team tagged manta rays and launched a new education program in Palm Beach, and three new Important Shark and Ray Areas were declared in Indonesia.

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Mozambique

New Certified Divers!

Mozambican Research Fellows Dercio and Simao have completed their Open Water dive certification! This is a big milestone in their training, enabling them to start joining our research teams in the field and exploring the underwater world they’re working to protect.

School Construction Progress

The construction of the school classroom in Morrungulo is well underway. The MMF team and representatives from the Irish Embassy visited the site and presented their VR marine conservation educational experience.

MMF Showcases Programs at Agricultural and Blue Economy Fair

MMF participated in an Agricultural and Blue Economy Fair in Tofo, coinciding with a visit from members of the Irish Parliament to Mozambique. The fair highlighted sustainable food systems, eco-tourism, recycling, conservation, and coastal management.

We showcased the activities MMF promotes and develops with local communities, highlighting ocean conservation and the country’s incredible biodiversity.

Lelia Attends BRUV Workshops

Lelia da Gloria, part of our Mozambican research team, attended a regional BRUV (baited remote underwater video) workshop hosted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (opens in a new tab) (SAIAB) in Grahamstown, South Africa. This workshop provided a valuable opportunity to learn from the experiences of other researchers using BRUVs and explore potential new collaborations in the region.

MMF MOZAMBIQUE

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Florida

Manta Tagging in Central Florida

The Florida Manta Project team successfully wrapped up their fieldwork on the adult manta ray aggregation in Central Florida. During this productive period, they were able to satellite tag eight manta rays, further expanding our knowledge of their movements and habitat use, and added a valuable new individual to our ever-growing manta ray database!

New Research on Cobia Fishing

In collaboration with the University of Miami (opens in a new tab), we interviewed expert anglers to better understand how fishing impacts manta rays, how it has changed over time, and developed best-practice guidelines for safe cobia fishing around manta rays.

To learn more about the intricate relationship between fishermen, cobia, and manta rays, you can access the research paper here (opens in a new tab).

New Palm Beach Education Program

Through a grant from the Palm Beach International Boat Club, the team are educating Title 1 school students (kindergarten to 2nd grade) in Palm Beach County.

This interactive program includes presentations, gifting the book “A Manta Ray’s Journey” written by Jessica Pate and Allie Brown, and take-home assignments to spark family discussions about manta ray conservation. 700+ kids have already participated!

FLORIDA projects

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Indonesia

Komodo: Knowledge for Conservation

Following a productive research stint in Komodo, the team’s focus has shifted to transforming their collected data into a report for the Komodo National Park management office. This report ensures valuable insights from our research are accessible to those responsible for protecting this iconic World Heritage Area.

Manta Ray Monitoring in Lembongan

Our Indonesian team has returned to Nusa Lembongan and is diving right back into their critical work! They’re continuing the long-term manta ray and turtle monitoring program, providing vital data for conservation efforts. Additionally, the team is ensuring responsible tourism practices by delivering pre-dive and pre-snorkel briefings on manta ray and turtle codes of conduct.

Masters Thesis Defended!

Huge congratulations to project leader Janis Argeswara, who recently defended her Master’s thesis – successfully completing her Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at Florida International University (opens in a new tab), supervised by Dr. Jeremy Kiszka and supported by MMF.

Expanding Outreach to Engage with Chinese Ocean Enthusiasts

The team conducted a bilingual presentation on manta ray ecology and conservation, delivering valuable insights in English (aided by a translator) while utilizing Chinese presentation slides to ensure broader accessibility. We aim to raise awareness and encourage active participation in ocean protection.

Three New Important Shark & Ray Areas for Indonesia

Thanks to Janis Argeswara’s leadership and MMF’s decade-long manta ray habitat research, applications for THREE new Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in Indonesia have been approved. These new ISRA designations include Nusa Penida, the Komodo Islands, and the Derawan Islands, a major win for elasmobranch conservation in Indonesia. Read more

MMF INDONESIA

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