Diver encounters with manta rays are often unforgettable moments of calm, curiosity and connection in the water, says the Manta Trust. But with manta and devil ray populations in serious decline, the UK-registered charity is calling on the global ocean community to participate in the Big Give Earth Raise campaign from today (22 April) and through the week until the 29th.
Earth Raise is an online match-funding campaign dedicated to helping charities involved in tackling pressing environmental issues, run in partnership with Environmental Funders Network.
It is said to be the UK’s biggest collaborative environmental fund-raising campaign, and the Manta Trust will see all donations made during the week matched to go twice as far in protecting the rays and their ecosystems.
International protection
Mantas and devil rays grow slowly, mature late and produce very few offspring, so their populations are unable to recover quickly from pressures such as bycatch, targeted fishing, habitat degradation and pollution.
International protection has strengthened in recent years, including the uplisting of all manta and devil ray species to CITES Appendix I, but significant gaps remain between policy and real-world enforcement, says the trust – the result of limited resources, inconsistent monitoring and uneven compliance.
“Global agreements are a vital step forward but they are only effective if they are implemented,” says Manta Trust chief executive Dr Guy Stevens.
“That’s where organisations like ours play a crucial role – bridging the gap between policy and action, and ensuring these animals are protected in reality, not just in principle. Every action taken during Earth Raise has the power to create lasting change.”
The Manta Trust’s work enables ongoing monitoring of populations, implementation of conservation measures and collaboration with local communities. It hopes to reach a target of £70,000 through the Earth Raise campaign week, and supporters can donate with double the impact here.
Shark Trust doubles up on eggcase project
Also running through the week of 22-29 April as part of Big Give Earth Raise, every donation to the Shark Trust’s marine citizen-science project The Great Eggcase Hunt will be doubled.
The project generates data on egg-laying sharks and skate worldwide in support of conservation efforts, identifying seasonal trends, environmental drivers and habitat associations and helping to determine potentially important areas deserving marine protection.
“Over more than two decades, the Great Eggcase Hunt has inspired thousands of people to discover the diversity of shark and skate species that call British waters home,” says the trust’s senior conservation officer Cat Gordon.
“Through free identification guides and accessible recording platforms, we’ve empowered a growing community of citizen-scientists to contribute to real marine conservation. Support generated through Earth Raise will provide a vital boost, helping this community-driven initiative to continue to thrive and expand its impact even further.”
As reported recently on Divernet, fewer than 1% of the eggcase observations received so far have been from underwater submissions with the embryo still developing in its capsule – so the Shark Trust is especially keen for more scuba divers to become engaged in the project.
The Shark Trust has an Earth Raise campaign target of £20,000 – for donations to be matched, they should be made through this dedicated link.
