Latest News
MMF’s Decades-Long Research Pivotal in Establishing New IUCN Important Shark and Ray Areas
MMF’s dedicated research across Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Qatar, Oman, and Mayotte has been instrumental in identifying these key habitats.
Virtual Reality brings “Flight of the Mantas” to life
The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) has partnered with Immotion, the leading provider of location-based VR edutainment, to create an educational and immersive virtual reality (VR) experience titled "Flight of the Mantas."
New study confirms a world-first international migration of reef manta rays
New research by the Marine Megafauna Foundation, has extended the southern range of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Africa, connecting the longest monitored and highly vulnerable population of reef manta rays along southern Mozambique to the UNESCO World Heritage site of iSimangaliso in South Africa.
Happy World Manta Day! Here are the latest discoveries on manta rays from our global team
MMF first began as the ‘Manta & Whale Shark Research Centre’ in Tofo, Mozambique, where Andrea Marshall completed the world’s first PhD on the biology and ecology of manta rays. Years later, she and the MMF team continue as world leaders in manta ray research and conservation. To help celebrate these majestic sea flap-flaps, we’ve compiled some updates on the latest discoveries on manta ray from our global team:
Manta rays and whale sharks now protected in Mozambique
After 20 years of research and lobbying efforts, the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) is thrilled to announce a major legislative victory for ocean life in Mozambique. A new commercial fishing law enacts sweeping protections for several threatened species, including whale sharks, manta rays, and all mobula species.
New DNA research reveals connectivity of manta rays in southeastern Africa
Global lockdowns pose few problems for whale sharks off Tanzania. New research shows that these gigantic fish prefer to stay in the bay they call home. Scientists regard whale sharks as a “highly migratory” species, capable of swimming tens of thousands of kilometers each year. However, a study published today in the journal Frontiers in […]
Underwater ‘listening stations’ track reef manta rays in Mozambique
In a new study, published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, University of Western Australia and Utrecht University used acoustic telemetry to identify critical habitat areas and understand movement patterns of reef manta rays in the waters off Mozambique’s Inhambane Province. […]
Please see below for press releases announcing our scientific publications, and how to get in touch with our media team.
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If you're a journalist working on a story about topics such as marine megafauna, plastic pollution, and ocean conservation, and are in need of expert comments or imagery, please get in touch with our media team who will be happy to help. We have high-resolution images and videos available and can also assist film crews on location.
BACKGROUND
MMF’s vision is a world in which marine life and humans thrive together.We aspire to attain this state by conducting pioneering research that informs practical conservation efforts to protect threatened marine megafauna species.
‘Megafauna’ are large marine species, including sharks, rays, marine mammals, many fishes, and sea turtles. MMF research focuses on manta rays and whale sharks.
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For press information, images or to set up an interview with an MMF spokesperson, please contact: media@marinemegafauna.org
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A list of our studies and reports can be found here.