As an intern for the Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute (LAMAVE), I contributed to reef manta ray conservation efforts in the Philippines. As part of the dive and research team, I helped install time-lapse underwater cameras at cleaning stations, which are critical sites where reef manta rays Mobula alfredi interact with cleaner fish to have parasites removed.
The cameras allowed us to monitor manta ray movements and interactions, providing valuable insights into their habits and the importance of these reefs for their overall health and survival. We further deployed acoustic receivers and tagged individual manta rays to study their further movements. With out data we established and maintained an ID-database of all individuals which was used for a Marine Protected Area (MPA) proposal, aiming for the long-term conservation of this vulnerable species around Ticao Island.
Phillippines
