Latest News
MMF and Partners Create First-Ever Accurate Digital 3D Manta Ray Model
MMF's research team used drones, aerial surveys, and in-water photography and videography to collect measurements and track individuals for the 3D model
Researchers Document the Rare Ornate Eagle Ray—One of the World’s Most Elusive Ray Species
“The moment I saw it, I knew it was something special and unusual.”
New Study Highlights the Need for Long-Term Population Monitoring of the World’s Largest Fish
Additional modeling of the abundance trends showed that only dramatic decreases or increases could be confidently detected
Inhambane Seascape in Mozambique Recognized as Mission Blue Hope Spot
Mission Blue has declared the Inhambane Seascape a Hope Spot in recognition of the spatial planning work being done in the area to develop a network of marine protected areas (MPA) in the surrounding waters.
New Study Values Madagascar Whale Shark Tourism at $1.5 Million Amid Calls for Stronger Protections
Calls for sustainable tourism measures to protect whale sharks are overwhelmingly supported by operators and tourists
Researchers Launch First-of-its-Kind Study to Track Critically Endangered Wedgefish
MMF scientists have kickstarted an intensive tagging study designed to better understand movements and habitat use and guide protection of these rare and threatened species
First Study of Zebra Sharks in Africa Reveals New Hotspot in Need of Protection
Scientists use a combination of local knowledge, underwater photography, and research dives to track an endangered shark.
Manta rays and whale sharks now protected in Mozambique
After 20 years of research and lobbying efforts, the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) is thrilled to announce a major legislative victory for ocean life in Mozambique. A new commercial fishing law enacts sweeping protections for several threatened species, including whale sharks, manta rays, and all mobula species.
New DNA research reveals connectivity of manta rays in southeastern Africa
Global lockdowns pose few problems for whale sharks off Tanzania. New research shows that these gigantic fish prefer to stay in the bay they call home. Scientists regard whale sharks as a “highly migratory” species, capable of swimming tens of thousands of kilometers each year. However, a study published today in the journal Frontiers in […]
First-of-its-kind global survey reveals sharks could be better protected in Mozambique
A new landmark study published today in Nature by Global FinPrint reveals sharks are virtually absent on many of the world’s coral reefs, indicating they are too rare to fulfill their normal role in the ecosystem, otherwise referred to as “functionally extinct.” Of the 371 reefs surveyed in 58 countries, sharks were not observed on […]
There’s no place like home for whale sharks in Tanzania
Global lockdowns pose few problems for whale sharks off Tanzania. New research shows that these gigantic fish prefer to stay in the bay they call home. Scientists regard whale sharks as a “highly migratory” species, capable of swimming tens of thousands of kilometers each year. However, a study published today in the journal Frontiers in […]
Underwater ‘listening stations’ track reef manta rays in Mozambique
In a new study, published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, University of Western Australia and Utrecht University used acoustic telemetry to identify critical habitat areas and understand movement patterns of reef manta rays in the waters off Mozambique’s Inhambane Province. […]
Please see below for press releases announcing our scientific publications, and how to get in touch with our media team.
-
If you're a journalist working on a story about topics such as marine megafauna, plastic pollution, and ocean conservation, and are in need of expert comments or imagery, please get in touch with our media team who will be happy to help. We have high-resolution images and videos available and can also assist film crews on location.
BACKGROUND
MMF’s vision is a world in which marine life and humans thrive together.We aspire to attain this state by conducting pioneering research that informs practical conservation efforts to protect threatened marine megafauna species.
‘Megafauna’ are large marine species, including sharks, rays, marine mammals, many fishes, and sea turtles. MMF research focuses on manta rays and whale sharks.
-
For press information, images or to set up an interview with an MMF spokesperson, please contact: media@marinemegafauna.org
-
A list of our studies and reports can be found here.