Manta and Devil Rays of the Western Atlantic
Project Overview:
Program Partners
- Marine Megafauna Foundation
- Florida Manta Project
- NOAA Fisheries
Location
- Offshore canyons and seamounts in the western North Atlantic, off New York and Massachusetts. Potential survey areas include Hudson Canyon and the Northeast Canyons.
Expected Time Frame
- August–September 2027
Duration of Expedition
- Five days, with the possibility of recurring expeditions as the project develops.
Accommodation Needed
- 2 - 4 Researchers + 1 SeaKeeper Representative
Special Equipment Needed
- Swim platform (hydraulic or stationary) or easy access to water & clear deck space suitable for launching and recovering a drone
Expedition parameters listed above are flexible and negotiable.
Background:
The Marine Megafauna Foundation conducts research to advance the understanding and conservation of threatened marine megafauna, including manta and devil rays. In the western Atlantic, MMF researchers have contributed to studies examining mobulid distribution, habitat use, movements, and interactions with human activities.
Previous work has identified a rare nursery habitat for juvenile manta rays in South Florida and important mating and foraging habitat used by adults. In collaboration with NOAA, researchers have also satellite-tagged manta rays near the Mississippi River Delta to better understand their movements and potential overlap with shrimp trawl fisheries.
This work has expanded to include other mobulid species. Recent research confirmed an extension of the known range of the sicklefin devil ray, Mobula tarapacana, in the western North Atlantic, with observations indicating that offshore waters of the northeastern United States may provide important seasonal habitat. Building on these findings, MMF now seeks to conduct the first dedicated field expedition focused on manta and devil rays in this region.
Mission:
The mission of this project is to collect baseline data on the understudied and threatened manta and devil rays of the western Atlantic.
Project objectives include:
- Identifying new study areas for mobulid rays in the Atlantic, including the Northeast Canyons
- Collecting behavioral observations and biological samples
- Using satellite telemetry to study ray movements and potential overlap with fisheries
- Identifying critical habitats for mobulids in the western Atlantic
- Sharing findings with resource managers, conservation organizations, students, and the public
Applications:
Manta and devil rays face significant conservation pressures, yet limited information is available about their distribution, movements, habitat use, and population connectivity in the western North Atlantic. Establishing baseline data will help researchers better assess the importance of offshore canyons and seamounts to these species and identify areas where they may overlap with fishing activity and other human uses.
The findings will be shared with NOAA Fisheries, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and other relevant management bodies. Giant manta rays are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and additional information about their distribution and habitat use can support future management decisions.
Hudson Canyon has also been considered for designation as a National Marine Sanctuary. Documentation of threatened manta and devil ray species within the area could provide further scientific information relevant to the protection and management of this habitat.
Relevant/Previous Scientific Publication(s):
- Farmer, N.A., et al. (2022). “The distribution of manta rays in the western North Atlantic Ocean off the eastern United States.” Scientific Reports, 12, 6544. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10482-8
- Pate, J.H., Wilmott, J.R., Jones, C., Horn, C., & Farmer, N.A. (2023). “Multiple datasets confirm range extension of the sicklefin devil ray Mobula tarapacana in the western North Atlantic Ocean off the eastern USA.” Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 103, e30. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531542300022X
Program Partners:
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