Who are Marine Megafauna Foundation?

Whether you follow us on social media or have just found our website, you will have seen us mention MMF – the Marine Megafauna Foundation. Scuba Junkie has a long history of supporting and working with MMF to help protect the ocean giants, so here you’ll find out some more information about who they are, what they do and how we work with them.

How did they start?

The Marine Megafauna Foundation originated in Mozambique studying the whale shark and manta ray population in the area. Andrea Marshall and Simon Pierce, the founders, developed their friendship there researching their beloved megafauna (manta rays and whale sharks respectively). Through research and hard work, Andrea Marshall specified the current two species of Manta (although we should say Mobula now!) – the Manta (Mobula) alfredi and Manta (Mobula) birostris. Also known as the Reef and Giant mantas (anyone made the connection with our dive boat name?).

Fast forward ten years and they have developed from two passionate scientists to a globally based program that aims to promote education, conservation and research of the marine world. Currently they have bases in Mozambique, America, and South East Asia.  Not only that but the founders are now revered as the experts in their field and to go to people with any questions regarding our flappy or spotty friends.

Here in Komodo we work closely with the Foundation through its researchers,  particularly with marine scientist and another mobula / manta expert, Elitza Germanov “Ellie”. Ellie is studying the effects of microplastics and megafauna. Her research looks at the amount of micro plastics found in the water in manta rays feeding grounds (heads up, the results aren’t great!). Not only that, but she also works with Indonesian Universities to train up volunteers in manta research.

As well as researching microplastics, the MMF crew also run the MantaMatcher site, which is a global online database identifying individual manta rays. An ID shot of a manta ray is a belly photo – each manta ray has an unique individual spot pattern (much like a fingerprint) that is used to identity the manta ray. By collecting these photos the team can gain an understanding of manta ray movements, behaviour and population numbers.

In 2019 they welcomed Janis and April from Udayana University. So far these guys have learned about the research equipment (they had to unpack the lab from storage and set it up in its new location at Blue Corner Dive), calibrating instruments and tested their in water skills. Then they jumped in the ocean and sampled the water of the known feeding grounds of manta rays for plastic particles. They have also gone into schools to share their knowledge with the next generations of ocean warriors!

Here at Scuba Junkie we are proud supporters of their work and helped to fund the 2019 Microplastics and Megafauna Internship Program. We have welcomed many MMF research assistants and interns to the resort where they have stayed with us and collected manta ray data, such as ID shots that assist with understanding the manta ray population. When at the resort they will do weekly presentations about manta rays, a great opportunity for our guests to learn more about these beautiful creatures.

Our guests can contribute as well by purchasing from our stock of merchandise whose proceeds help to support the foundation. We have loved following the journey of Janis & April so far and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

You can support their work too! If you have any photos of the belly of a manta ray, which shows their unique spot pattern, please upload it to MantaMatcher.org along with the information on where you saw the manta. This provides with with information on manta ray movements which can lead to better enforcement of protection!

To follow Janis and April’s journey check out the instagram page @microplastics_and_megafauna

All photos curtesy of the Marine Megafauna Foundation