our ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Created the Manta Trust Education Portal.
We launched a dedicated education portal with teacher lesson plans, activities and kids club games. Through the portal, teachers can book virtual classes with leading scientists and conservationists from the Manta Trust. We also created a 30-page Ocean Education lesson plan booklet for educators to use worldwide, which is available to download from the portal in five different languages.
Conceptualised and launched the first World Manta Day on the 17th of September.
In 2020, we launched the first-ever World Manta Day to celebrate manta rays and to raise awareness of the threats that these beautiful, mysterious ocean giants face. Each year we host events and run campaigns to promote the day, and celebrate a different theme, to create awareness about certain aspects of manta ray conservation such as the climate crisis, education and tourism.
Took over management of the Ocean Giants Programme.
In 2020, we collaborated with the Plymouth School of Biological and Marine Sciences, to manage the Ocean Giants Programme for Conservationist Development. The programme provides participating students (Apprentices) with training and work experience in aspects of a marine conservation charity's real operations, whilst directly supporting our partner NGO’s work to protect threatened marine megafauna.
Published a comprehensive field guide to all mobulid species.
In 2018 we published the ‘Guide to the Manta and Devil Rays of the World’ by Stevens, Fernando, Dando and Notarbartolo di Sciara. This comprehensive field guide is an essential resource for fisheries management, international trade enforcement, and for anyone wanting to become involved in the ongoing efforts to research and conserve mobulids.
Launched multi-media initiative to support and increase sustainable manta tourism.
In 2017 we launched a campaign to educate tourists and operators about “How to Swim with Manta Rays”. The initiative includes the creation of a multimedia tool kit based on the Manta Trust’s research-backed Code of Conduct. This continually growing kit includes a short film, instructions for staff, and a 10- Step Guide, and is designed to help operators and tourists alike minimise the impact their interactions have on the mantas they encounter. We developed a dedicated website for this project (www.swimwithmantas.org), making the information and media tools freely available in multiple languages.
Worked with partners to create 'Best Practice Guidelines for Shark & Ray Tourism'.
We initiated a collaborative project with WWF and Project AWARE to develop ‘Best Practice Guidelines for Shark and Ray Tourism’, in collaboration with a scientific advisory group and industry experts. This includes a large outreach and education component towards dive operators, governments and the local community. The guide was launched in early 2017 and is designed to help the public create their own Tourism Guidelines that are specific to their corner of the ocean, and the shark and ray species that inhabit it.
Published world's first book on manta rays.
Manta Trust co-founders Dr Guy Stevens, marine biologist, and Thomas P. Peschak, award-winning National Geographic photographer, published the world’s first book on manta rays in 2017. ‘MANTA Secret Life of Devil Rays’ combines ground-breaking photography with the latest scientific research from our projects around the globe.