Project Manta engages scientists, industry partners and the general public in a comprehensive study of manta rays that will provide baseline knowledge for the long-term sustainability of the species, while supporting economic and social benefits through eco-tourism. Little is known about their life history or ecology but researchers believe they may live 30-50 years. However, the majority of this effort has been focused on manta rays ( n 863), with devil rays representing only 14.4 of tracked animals ( n 145). Manta rays are found around the globe in temperate and tropical waters. In particular this project aims to investigate connectivity and movement between populations of manta rays within Australia and neighbouring regions generate accurate estimates of population size understand key biological and environmental drivers of population dynamics and use this information to provide management recommendations for manta ray populations in the region. Using acoustic and satellite telemetry, movements of 1,008 individual rays of 6 species have been investigated in 10 distinct regions throughout their range (Figure 6 ). The giant manta ray now joins over 16,000 endangered species to be assessed with this serious threat level. Project Manta is a multidisciplinary research collaboration focusing on the population ecology and biology of manta rays within Australian waters. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced that the conservation status of the giant manta ray (or oceanic manta ray) has been changed from Vulnerable to Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species. Manta rays are the world’s largest rays. There are currently two recognised species, the reef manta ray ( Manta alfredi) and the giant oceanic manta ray ( Manta birostris), reaching wingspans of 5 and 7m respectively. These iconic species have worldwide distributions. In Australian waters, manta rays are found around northern Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia to central NSW in eastern Australia. As harmless giants of the oceans, they attract considerable public interest and are the subject of globally important ecotourism industries. They are also targeted for fisheries in various parts of the world and as a consequence are listed as Vulnerable to Extinction in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Student support Show Student support sub-navigationĮngagement Show Engagement sub-navigation Facilities Show Facilities sub-navigation
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