community transitions away from mobulid fisheries that was accepted , with support from five countries - Fiji , Ecuador , India , the EU and the Philippines .
We have organised and / or participated in policy-implementation workshops in all key mobulid fishing countries ( Indonesia , India , Sri Lanka , Philippines , Peru ) to support enforcement and monitoring of the gill plate trade .
We launched a multi-media initiative to support and increase sustainable manta tourism in 2017 to educate tourists and operators about “ How to Swim with Manta Rays ”. The initiative includes the creation of a free multimedia tool kit based on the Manta Trust ’ s research-backed Code of Conduct .
In 2018 we published the “ Guide to the Manta and Devil Rays of the World ” a comprehensive field guide to all mobulid species .
The magic of Hanifaru
Hanifaru Bay- this is truly a place like no other . Situated along the north-east border of Baa Atoll , Hanifaru island looks very similar to all the other yellow-dusted plateaus that dot the warm Maldivian seas , supporting dense thickets of palm trees and roosting fairy terns . Yet the lagoon surrounding this isle is perfectly poised to host one of the world ’ s most magnificent phenomena – mass feeding aggregations of manta rays , and on the bumper days , a couple of whale sharks too .
After 15 years in this particular location , our Baa Atoll team classify this survey site as their second home – and one they can ’ t wait to return to each day . As a researcher , it wasn ’ t always as easy to navigate – with tourists flooding the bay to swim with
A reef manta channels plankton over its gill rakers
PHOTO : GUY STEVENS
the majestic manta rays , it sometimes resembled a circus .
Picture this : Dozens of divers below disrupting the manta rays natural feeding cycles by spewing bubbles and dissipating zooplankton ; the manta rays ’ food source . Snorkellers kicking and screaming with excitement at the surface , blocking the path of the hungry mantas and disorientating them in the process .
Boat traffic was uncoordinated and noisy , with all of this taking place within a very confined area and with limited safety protocols in place . Thankfully , today Hanifaru Bay is a recognised as a Marine Protected Area ( MPA ) – Manta Trust was instrumental in steering the designation of Hanifaru as an MPA in 2009 and later in driving the declaration of Baa Atoll as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2011 .
Hanifaru Bay now has a well-structured management plan and is governed by strict rules to safeguard the site for the
megafauna and to ensure sustainable tourism . We continue to monitor this location daily , identifying the manta population that come to feed , monitoring their behaviour , assessing environmental variables and collecting tourism data . Our focus is on providing the science and recommendations to the Maldives government to ensure effective conservation management decisions are implemented to ensure sustainable tourism .
The Maldives and Covid-19
With every storm comes a lull and this is certainly what we have experienced with the subsequent pause in all travel and tourism due to Covid-19 . Manta ray tourism alone generates approximately US $ 8.1 million in direct revenue to the Maldives economy . With tourism brought to a complete halt this year , there will be drastic ramifications on a country where
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