MANTATRUST
Manta Trust teams in the Maldives ( top ) and Fiji ( below )
the main income is from tourism . Our work is focussed not only on the research but also on education , and without tourists we miss out on the opportunity to educate people on the threats to manta rays and their relatives .
Guiding tourists to follow sustainable tourism practices and providing that opportunity of a lifetime to connect with these magnificent creatures encourages people to protect these animals and , in so doing , the natural environment .
The Maldivian reef manta population is the largest and one of the most intensively studied populations in the world . This is possible because of established partnerships with resorts and dive centres who have sponsored our work and allowed us to spread awareness among their guests .
Tourists have also been highly instrumental in contributing sightings to our IDtheManta programme , which has significantly expanded our knowledge , especially in areas where we are unable to conduct regular research . There are certainly immense benefits to the natural environment as a result of the Anthropause but , as yet , we do not know how this has affected the manta population . However , tourism , if practised sustainably , is also instrumental in furthering protection and if lost , our progress in overcoming conservation challenges will be drastically hindered . �
Recording reef mantas in the Maldives and an oceanic manta in sunburst ( opposite page , top )
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