MANTA RAYS – DR. ANDREA MARSHAL – MANTA RAY RESEARCHER, MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambique boasts one of the largest and most beautiful coastlines in Africa. Recently, it has been discovered that Inhambane Province is one of the world’s largest aggregation sites for Manta Rays. Manta Rays are the largest ray species in the world, reaching up to 7 meter wingspans and weighing up to 2,000 kg. Gentle giants, in every sense, these rays are not harmful to humans, have no poisonous stinging barb, and eat only tiny planktonic animals, which they strain through specialized filters in their enormous mouths. Manta Rays are also extremely inquisitive and seem to both seek out and enjoy contact with divers and snorkelers. With the largest brain to body ratio of any fish, these mysterious rays are thought to be highly social and ‘intelligent’. As one of the most charismatic and iconic fish in the sea, the opportunity to interact with Manta Rays should not be missed when visiting the region.

After years of dedicated field survey work and research in to the ecology of Manta Rays in southern Mozambique, it has become very apparent that this stretch of coastline is a critical habitat for these rays (www.marinemegafauna.org). Thousands of Mantas reside in these waters feeding in plankton rich waters and visiting inshore cleaning stations (where their cleaning needs are attended to by tiny reef fish). Perhaps most importantly, Manta Rays aggregate in these waters to find mates and give birth to their young. This coastline is one of the only identified breeding grounds for reef Mantas in the world with mating and birthing taking place in the summer months when the water is warm.

The recent discovery of a second species of Manta Ray in Mozambique shocked the world (www.saveourseas.com/manta-rays-a-new-species) and although both species giant rays live through the world’s oceans, Mozambique remains one of the only known locations where both species can be seen sharing habitat. This rare overlap conveniently allows scuba divers to encounter both of the world’s largest rays on a single dive. I

nhambane is also home to the only research being conducted on Manta Rays in Africa. Public talks are given each week in Tofo Beach courtesy of the Marine Megafauna Association (www.marinemegafauna.org/education) and marine research centers are open to visitation from the public throughout the year in Tofo Beach (www.marinemegafauna.org/about-us) and Zavora (www.oceans-research.com/marinelabfacilities/mozambiquezavora).