In an article written by Dr Annie Murray published on the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative, I was thrilled to share my experience with the manta rays in the remote atoll of the Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea.
These remote islands are a haven for manta rays, offering us the rare opportunity to research a much understudied and unknown population.
As a CICI board member and certified manta enthusiast, I'm delighted to see the CICI's new Papua New Guinea Manta Project (PNGMP) be able to ramp up thanks to generous donations.
Marvelling at mantas
“When I saw the first one of that size, my heart almost stopped, and I thought I was dreaming when this majestic animal approached me very gently and looked right into my eyes.”
My first up close and personal experience with reef manta rays, the prime species observed in the Conflict Islands, was back in 2015. During a night dive in the Maldives the mantas made their presence known, feeding on plankton attracted by the dive lights, with their mouths so wide open you could count the individual gills. Since then, my passion for mantas has taken her to many corners of the planet.
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Back in 2018, I first travelled to Socorro Island in Mexico. Socorro is part of the Revillagigedo National Park, some 500 kilometres out to sea and only accessible after a 36-hour boat journey. It is also home to one of the largest aggregations of oceanic manta rays in the world. With a disc width up to 7m, these manta rays have a curious nature, one which makes encounters unforgettable for divers.
As large as they are, they are also incredibly gentle and curious and actively interact with divers. As long as we're careful to follow the Code of Conduct for manta interactions, giving mantas their space, allowing them to control the interaction and never touching them, these interactions can be magical while making little impact on the animals.
Threats and challenges
I returned to visit the Socorro manta rays early in 2023, and took the opportunity to learn more about their life history alongside the threats which they are facing. As of 2020, oceanic manta rays are listed as ‘Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List due to a number of factors, many manmade. Their long gestation periods and low birth rates work against them, but the biggest threat to their survival is from becoming by-catch in nets, and targeted fisheries. I was angered, and wanted to contribute more to the protection of the beautiful manta species.
“I was delighted to hear about The Manta Trust and the organisation's dedication to manta conservation. When I heard that the Manta Trust is planning to conduct research in the Conflict Islands, I fully supported this initiative and decided to also donate funds to make this happen. We need to learn more about mantas in order to be able to protect them and ensure their survival. “
We need to learn as much as we can in order to facilitate the protection and conservation of these animals. The PNGMP are doing just that, and I look forward to continuing to support their growing project.
I invite you to read the full article on the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative website.