Andrea Marshall: Queen of the Mantas
This past weekend I had the honour of meeting marine biologist Andrea Marshall following her talk at the London international Dive Show (LIDS). I already knew she was pretty awesome but in all seriousness she is one of the most inspiring young ladies I have ever met.
Since 2003 Andrea has been based in Mozambique researching the manta ray population for her PhD thesis (the first of its kind) – Biology and population ecology of manta birostris in Southern Mozambique. During the last seven years on Tofo Beach her field research has led to a number of discoveries through the use of acoustic tagging, non-intrusive underwater photography and genetic sample collecting including feeding techniques, mating rituals and reproduction, dive depths and migration patterns. Yet most interestingly the work of the Manta Ray and Whale Shark Research Centre uncovered not only visual but also behavioral differences between Tofo’s mantas culminating in the identification of a second (and possibly third) species separating the manta birostris (giant migratory mantas) from the smaller newly-named manta alfredi (or reef manta) as presented at the American Elasmobranch Society’s annual conference in Montreal, Canada during July 2008.
Andrea’s hour-long discussion to a packed out seminar room at London’s ExCEL centre introduced mantas through some truly stunning visuals and gave us the opportunity to learn more about manta population, ecology and conservation not just in Mozambique but across the globe. I was surprised to learn just how small their numbers are and how irresponsible fishing has decimated numbers in some areas making the industry for gill rakers (used in Chinese medicine) increasingly unviable. Observations of manta reproduction indicate that the long 12-month gestation period of female mantas impacts energy stores so strongly that a single pup is usually only produced every two to three years. Describing a WWF funded project Andrea presented figures of a three year fishing cycle resulting in the economic collapse of the fishery and a manta population still struggling to make a come back.
Back in November 2009 the BBC broadcast a documentary about Andrea’s work called Andrea: Queen of the Mantas. It contained some of the most incredible footage collected by her research centre but as it’s no longer available via the iPlayer you’ll only be able to catch a few clips. Take my word for it though that it was amazing. I’ve also embedded a Save our Seas‘ video clip of Andrea talking about her research below. Save our Seas are one of the main sponsors for the Mozambique research and always appreciate your support to help continue their conservation, awareness, research and education projects. They were also at LIDS where I picked up one of the shirts as modeled by Andrea above.
For more on Andrea and mantas take a look at some of these:
- The New Scientist;
- Save our Seas;
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species;
- Manta Ray Research;
- Scientific output;
- The secret world of the giant manta ray.
UPDATE – Andrea Marshall vs The World.
That's me... Lex Rigby
April 7th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Watching her documentaries, -fantastic work.
Maybe she already has had the idea, but can she use a fingerprinting method to I.D. her mantas quicker when logging her photos, for recognition and research. Zoom in on their belly spots, log and record then fingerprint automatically……….Can’t explain the technical terms, but hope someone out there gets the drift….x
Good luck in your work.
September 25th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I just wanted to say thanks. Sorry it is a bit delayed. I just got off a 4 month expedition around the world tagging giant mantas. I am exhausted but very very satisfied with a fantastic trip. I am in the Dubai airport as we speak waiting to get back to Mozambique to do more work on ‘my’ mantas. I love it when people share news about mantas and inspire others, so thanks! That is what it is all about. Also, just a note, but it looks like I will be speaking at the Birmingham Dive Show at the end of October so those of you that missed me speak in London have a chance to come check it out!
November 5th, 2010 at 9:46 am
I am just write to thank you for this entrance in your blog becaouse I have been looking for further information about Andrea´s conservation projects.
Bye
November 6th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I fully agree, Dr. Andrea Marshall is not only a very attractive woman, she is also an extraordinary person.
November 8th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Hi Andrea,its good to see you are still working on the mantas,and that you still enjoy diving,hope all goes well
Cheers 4 now
December 8th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Cocos Island, 300 miles southwest of Costa Rica is another location for macro diving and seemingly a large population of manta rays. I dove there in my youth and recall a very intelligent species attempting to communicate with the intruders. There are no shallow waters around this 14 square mile island which leads me to agree with your theory of their deep water residence. Thank you for your valuable research and continued success.
December 10th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Andrea, I just saw you show on Animal Planet. I didn’t realize that so little was know about the Manta, and that someone was really doing research on them. The show was excellent. You should be very proud of the work you are doing!!!! I wish I’d fallen into work like that. Looks like a lot of fun, and requires a lot of different skills.
Keep up the good work!!!
Would love to hear from you sometime.
John
March 27th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Just see Andrea at LIDS 2011 at the Excel Center in London.
Her talk was shocking and hit very hard – there was silence throughout her speach – the message is we have to do something and do it *NOW*!
I spoke to Andrea after trying to find out how I can help and her response was “in any way you think you can”.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Hi John!
Thanks for stopping by. A year on and Andrea still continues to inspire me. Her talk at this year’s Dive Show was again incredibly well attended and gave some practical advice on what we can do to help preserve our planet.
I’ll be heading out to Tofo in July and hoping to do my part, in some way. Stay tuned.
April 5th, 2011 at 3:16 am
I’ve been studying shark behavior since 1958 and give a shark slide presentation to schools, dive clubs, power squadrons, small corp & others. I recently returned from the Socorro Islands and would like to research manta ray behavior. I have seen Dr. Andrea Marshall on various tv shows & videos but would like to know her email address to ask her questions & share experiences with mantas.
April 5th, 2011 at 3:21 am
I have seen Dr. Andrea Marshall on tv & in videos and I would like to know her email address so I can converse with her on her manata ray studies.
May 1st, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Hi Andrea,
I just watched your show on Animal Planet in Deerfield Beach Florida and I wanted to let you know that you opened my eyes to something I never thought was happening. I knew about Sharks being harvested and Sea Turtles and over fishing,But Never knew or thought they would do this to Mantas. Please keep up the fight.
When I was 18 I was kicked off Hollywood Beach for riding a Manta and they said it was for causing a pannick. This animal loved when I would scratch her back and rub her belly. She stayed with me for a good half hour until athorities made me leave. I wish I could donate to your cause and help,But due to my finacial situation at this time I cannot. Please put me on your mailing list. Thank you and keep it up.
Andy Baron
July 21st, 2011 at 9:59 am
Hello Andrea:
I had been following your studies for more than 5 years.
I have to say that I’m impress with your work.
I’m a dive Instructor, I been in m any country around the world, and I seen how the Manta population is getting damage each year.
I’m now leaving in Zanzibar, and I was wondering if there was any possibility of working with you.
Hope to hear from you.
I know that probably you get a hundred of people trying to work with you.
So I appreciate that you take the time of reading this.
Alejandro Huitrón de velasco
September 29th, 2011 at 8:04 am
Last night I fell in love with Mantas
QUEEN of the MANTAS on bbc2 can still be seen
Andrea is sooooo dedicated and inspiring
I will do all I can to help – spent childhood in Mombasa- lived in Japan so understand some dialemas I can work to help your cause in facebook, UK Birmingham and Morocco of all places, this is where I hang out half my life but if you need any artwork done
and donations Im here to help
Am off to get some of your T shirts for Xmas x
ps nothing came up on conservation for mantas in WWF im a member always adoping animals for the kids i have contacted them