THE BIG BLUE
HOW IS IT TO MEET THESE GIANT CREATURES? There are very few wild animals on land or in the ocean that you can get within inches of, without the animal being afraid of you – or the other way around. And the manta rays are showing many signs of being very intelligent, which is also seen in the relatively large, pineapple-sized brain. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STUDY MANTAS? It is an amazing creature, which you can relate to and care about more than some other species. And if you want to protect manta rays you must protect a large part of the eco system in the oceans. WHAT MAKES MANTAS SPECIAL TO RESEARCH? The spots on their ventral surface, which remain unchanged throughout their lives, are like a fingerprint, thus you can record and follow individuals and a detailed population for a longer term than what is normally possible. This allows you to see the impact of the environment, fishing, humans, food availability, tourism et cetera. WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU FOUND OUT? We are still estimating in many aspects – but it seems like a manta can live to 40 plus years, that they reproduce infrequently with one pup every 4 -5 years on average. Here in the Maldives, the population is quite stable with 3000 to 4000 individuals at any one time. But in other places 80-90 percent of the population has diminished, which is why the mantas are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List. And we are now increasingly concerned about the link between humaninduced climate change and its negative effects on the mantas.
LEFT PAGE RESEARCHER USING STEREO CAMERA TO MEASURE MANTA RAYS, HANIFARU BAY, BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES. (PPR//CFB/GUY STEVENS) RIGHT PAGE DR GUY STEVENS, CEO OF THE MANTA TRUST.
SO, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO? Everything makes a difference. Cut down on flights, drive an electric car (or better still, ride a bike or walk), eat less meat, start thinking about what products you buy, how you invest your money et cetera. These are all steps in the right direction. Start with something. When you go on holiday, think about offsetting the carbon. There are significant individual actions everyone can take – immediately. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CARL F. BUCHERER AND THE MANTA TRUST? Their support is hugely valued, and what I really like about it is that Carl F. Bucherer is in it for the long term, which makes it possible for us to undertake long-term studies. It is also exciting that we could create something unique that was never done before with engravings of individual mantas on every watch in the Patravi ScubaTec collection. This really gives you a unique, personal connection to these enigmatic gentle giants and the oceans.
WHAT ABOUT PLASTICS? The pollution caused by single use plastics is damaging to our planet, and should be reduced – absolutely. However, plastic is not a significant problem for the mantas, and generally, I find the current plastic debate to be a somewhat of a distraction from the vastly more significant impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, which are the biggest threat to the mantas, to humankind, and all life on our planet.
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