Marine Life & Conservation
Andrea Marshall honored with conservation award
Dr Andrea Marshall receives recognition in the inaugural Ocean Awards for her important contribution to ocean conservation
On January 13th, Andrea Marshall, co-founder of Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), a US 501c3 non profit organization formed to research, protect and conserve ocean giants in developing nations across the world, was honored with a conservation award for her efforts to protect manta rays.
The Blue Marine Foundation, the UK’s most dynamic marine conservation charity, and Boat International, the world’s leading superyacht media company, teamed up to create a series of awards to celebrate individuals, companies, legislators and projects that have made an outstanding contribution to the health of the oceans. They have chosen to recognize Andrea’s work to protect manta rays globally, most notably her team’s research efforts and campaign work that led to the listing of reef mantas on the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) in 2014 and the listing of all Manta species on CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) in 2013. Andrea and Guy Stevens from the Manta Trust were honored at the inaugural awards ceremony in the category ‘Piece of science or paper that made the most original, important or insightful contribution to ocean conservation’.
Dr. Andrea Marshall (MMF) and Guy Stevens (Manta Trust) at CITES in 2013.
Over the last decade, Andrea and her team have produced some of the first scientific studies on manta rays, many of which highlighted how vulnerable these animals were to over-exploitation and how fast wild populations were declining. A landmark study conducted at MMF’s research base in Mozambique, Africa documented a swift and significant 88% decline in observational sighting records of Manta alfredi at one of the most important aggregation areas for this species in the Indian Ocean. Population declines are now been observed globally as a result of unsustainable fishing pressure for their body parts, which are used in Chinese health tonics.
Andrea’s team were also the first to demonstrate the impressive migratory abilities of these rays having conducted the first satellite tracking on giant manta rays globally. They also monitor populations of these gentle giants via the first global online database for manta rays. Manta Matcher, the brainchild of Dr. Marshall’s which operates like “facebook” for manta rays, allows scientists to identify individual mantas through a pattern-matching algorithm (think facial recognition software) and track their movements and behavior over time. This unique open source database is connecting research groups around the world and allowing larger picture questions to be answered for the first time, including how large populations are, how far they travel and how long they live.
The inclusion of all Manta species on the appendices of CITES and CMS is helping to secure increased protection and management for these threatened ocean giants across the globe. These landmark victories represented a 10-year struggle by Andrea and her team, who as conservation biologists were determined to protect manta ray populations before they went regionally extinct throughout much of their range.
“I am honored to receive this inaugural Ocean Award from Blue Marine Foundation and Boat International. My team and I continually strive to push the envelope and hope that by contributing original research with clear conservation angles we can help to support effective management plans for these iconic and economically important species. Being involved in this type of work is so rewarding and we look forward to continuing our research efforts globally.” – Dr. Andrea Marshall, principal scientist of MMF’s Global Manta Ray Research Program
Marine Megafauna Foundation, is a tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the US tax code. To support Andrea and her team in saving ocean giants from extinction, please visit www.marinemegafauna.org/support-us/.
To further the research and impact of Andrea’s work, MMF welcomes your support of their 2016 manta research projects. One such project aims to increase the understanding of the migratory manta ray populations in southern Africa in order to help safeguard these vulnerable species in one of their most important regional habitats in the world.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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