Support manta conservation through COVID-19

Please help the Manta Trust to support small but crucial manta and devil ray conservation projects around the world, whose efforts and future successes are threatened by the COVID-19 crisis.

The Manta Trust is a UK charity working globally to research and protect manta and devil rays (known collectively as mobulids) and their habitats. These gentle giants are among the most charismatic creatures in our oceans, but across the world, populations are now seriously threatened by overfishing, bycatch, entanglement, and the devastating effects of climate change. As a result, they are now vulnerable to extinction.

Mobulids are caught and killed purposefully for their gill plates, as well as incidentally by the nets of fisheries targeting other species. As a result, some mobulid populations have exhibited regional populations declines of over 80%! Their gill plates are used as pseudo-remedies in east Asia and are embedded in the exotic wildlife trade scene. Although there have been some recent moves to restrict and close the wildlife trade in China due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the new measures only account for terrestrial (land-based) animals and will therefore not help mobulid rays.

The Manta Trust, made up of over 20 affiliate projects, is conducting vital research and conservation on these majestic animals. We are a team of passionate and dedicated scientists, marine conservationists, educators, and media makers and have already made significant advancement in our understanding and regional and global protection of manta rays and their relatives. However, there is still a lot more work to be done!

Unfortunately, the growing impact of the COVID-19 crisis now threatens the efforts of many of these small but crucial teams. Our staff rely on the dive and tourism industries and funding from international volunteers to not only carry out their work but pay their bills. Since international travel and tourism has dried up, so has their income.

At the Manta Trust, we are setting up a fund to help support our regional affiliate projects through this period, but we need your help. As a charity, we rely on continued generous donations from the public. We realise this is a challenging time for everyone, but we cannot let the fight to protect manta rays and the oceans stop. By donating you can help the Manta Trust to support these projects to weather the storm of the COVID-19 crisis over the coming months. Once the danger has passed your contributions will help us support local communities and industries to bounce back in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way.