About

Formed in 2011, Manta Trust is a UK registered charity that co-ordinates global mobulid (manta and devil rays) research and conservation efforts. Manta Trust’s team is comprised of a diverse group of researchers, scientists, conservationists, educators and media experts; working together to share and promote knowledge and expertise. The Trusts mission is to conserve mobulid rays, their relatives, and their habitats, through a combination of research, education and collaboration.

Threats

There are two critical threats that mobulid rays face. Firstly they are heavily sought after for their gill plates for use in Asian Medicine. Secondly, they are unintentionally being killed as ‘bycatch’ by fisheries targeting other species.

Manta Trust works with NGO’s to bring about legislation to protect mobulids from the gill plate trade. They have made great progress in recent years, but laws and regulations mean nothing if countries do not enforce them. An important aspect of the work Manta Trust does is to provide the tools and training governments need to apply the legislation.

Victims of Bycatch

Despite increasing protection against the gill plate trade, mantas and devil rays are killed in their thousands, as victims of bycatch. Destructive fishing techniques unintentionally catch and kill vast numbers of some of our ocean’s most endangered species; from dolphins and whales, to sea turtles, albatrosses and sharks, as well as rays.

Accurate data on the number of mobulids caught as bycatch is hard to come by. This is an important challenge that the Manta Trust seek to address, as decisions and solutions cannot be formed without the numbers to quantify the threat.

Mobulids Need Our Help

Manta and devil rays are some of the most threatened fish in our seas. Though great steps have been taken to enhance protection for them over the last decade, thousands are still being killed as bycatch, and the habitats on which they depend are threatened by development, pollution and the effects of climate change. By adopting a ray, and supporting the Manta Trust you will be aiding the protection of these beautiful fish, and their ocean habitats.