August 2025
The Manta Trust Announces Successful 2025 Devil Ray Research Expedition in the Azores, with Support from Carl F. Bucherer
© Jasmine Corbett
The Manta Trust, in collaboration with Manta Catalog Azores, is proud to share the achievements of the 2025 Azores devil ray research expedition. With the generous support of Swiss luxury watchmaker and long-term supporter Carl F. Bucherer, the expedition advanced scientific understanding of the endangered sicklefin devil ray (Mobula tarapacana), engaged local communities, and celebrated a new milestone in collaboration: the official recognition of the Manta Catalog Canary Islands project as a Manta Trust Affiliate.
© Jasmine Corbett
Each summer, the Ambrosio seamount off Santa Maria hosts one of the largest known aggregations of sicklefin devil rays worldwide. During the 2025 expedition, researchers conducted 14 dives and encountered 160 devil rays, including mature adults and pregnant females. Using long-term photo-identification methods, the team captured 55 new photo IDs and trialled new field protocols to improve monitoring of devil ray populations and reproductive status. These efforts significantly expand the global database and enhance conservation planning for the species.
© Leila Scheltema
In-water research provided rare opportunities to study devil ray behaviour up close. Large groups of rays circled calmly and interacted with one another, while whale sharks and dolphins added to the richness of encounters. These observations reinforced Ambrosio’s status as a mid-Atlantic biodiversity hotspot.
© Jasmine Corbett
The expedition also prioritised community engagement and education. The team hosted 7 presentations, 7 workshops, and 2 public education days, reaching approximately 300 participants, including local schools, dive centres, and tourism operators.
© Catarina Fazenda
A highlight of the outreach was the creation of a mural on a wall by the public swimming area in Anjos, painted collaboratively with the expedition team, schoolchildren, and community members. The mural features key information and facts about the sicklefin devil ray, including its endangered status, habitat, size, and behaviour. Serving both as an educational tool and a lasting visual celebration of marine life, the mural helps raise awareness among locals and visitors alike about the importance of protecting these magnificent animals. Citizen science was a central theme throughout, with local divers and operators encouraged to contribute images and observations to global databases.
© Leila Scheltema
“This trip was incredibly special for me. Much of my work at home relies on citizen science, so being at Ambrosio and experiencing these animals firsthand was unforgettable. Even more exciting was being able to share our work with the local community through education and outreach, including the mural project, and to formally join the Manta Trust family as an Affiliate project. This partnership opens the door to stronger collaboration and a brighter future for mobulid conservation across the Atlantic.”
© Jasmine Corbett
This year’s expedition also highlighted the growing links between the Azores and Canary Islands. The teams began comparing photo-ID databases from both regions, laying the groundwork to determine whether individuals move between archipelagos separated by more than 1,000 kilometers of open ocean. Confirming these connections would transform understanding of devil ray migration and reinforce the need for international conservation strategies.
© Leila Scheltema
“Ambrosio is a sanctuary not only for devil rays, but for scientific collaboration. By joining forces with the Manta Trust, Manta Catalog Canary Islands, and with the support of Carl F. Bucherer, we are strengthening a network of people and projects dedicated to protecting these extraordinary animals.”
© Jasmine Corbett
Sicklefin devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Research expeditions like this are vital to fill knowledge gaps on their movements, breeding, and critical habitats—knowledge that directly informs conservation policies.
© Danny Copeland
“This year’s expedition has been a remarkable success. Thanks to the support of Carl F. Bucherer, we expanded the photo-ID database, trialled new research methodologies, engaged the Santa Maria community through workshops, talks, and the educational mural in Anjos, and welcomed the Canary Islands project as a new Manta Trust Affiliate. Together, we are building the foundation to secure a future for devil rays across the Atlantic.”
© Jasmine Corbett
FOR MANTA TRUST MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Contact: Jasmine Corbett
Manta Trust Media and Communications Manager
Email: jasmine.corbett@mantatrust.org
Press Release Credits
Written by: Jasmine Corbett
Images: Photographer’s credit below images – ensure that credit is given if images are used
About the Manta Trust
The Manta Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity dedicated to the research and protection of manta and devil rays and their habitats. Through research, education, and collaboration, the Manta Trust works to ensure a sustainable future for these extraordinary creatures.