NEWSCAST – 3January – June 2018

Officially launched in September 2016, the Manta Initiative in New Caledonia aims to enhance theknowledge on manta rays in the territory, and promote conservation through strong collaboration withgovernment, non-profit partners, and the local communities.
Manta rays are an emblematic species in New Caledonia and the broader region. However, while they arelarge, there is very little known about them. In addition, these majestic animals are ambassadors for thewaters of New Caledonia — a sanctuary spanning thousands of square kilometers. The data that we gather
through scientific research will contribute and encourage manta ray conservation, and more broadly, better
management of their habitats.
This report presents activities carried out by the Manta Initiative during August to December 2017.

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PROGRESS AND IMPACT
Our database – growing even stronger!
Our manta ray database now consists of 283 manta rays,
with a whopping 43 more additions since our previous
update!
We managed to also identify new manta rays in Maré andOuano, in addition to our usual sites of Nouméa, Ouvéa,
Touho and l’Ile des Pins.
On one of our surveys in Ouvéa, we identified 13 newmanta individuals, and identified 7 already in thedatabase. In Nouméa, several photo IDs taken from thepassages of Boulari and Dumbéa were sent to us in
March — which consisted of groups of more than 10
individuals at one time! These photo IDs and others haveallowed us to identify 28 new manta rays, just in
Nouméa.

Taking a photo of a manta ray’s belly allows
us to identify it, and track its movements
around New Caledonia’s waters! The more
photos we receive, the more mantas we canidentify!
Within the last six months, we have received numerous photo ID
contributions, and sometimes even videos! We thank the 26 newcontributors, who have brought the total contributors up to 100people! We also thank all of the dive operators who haveencouraged their clients to participate.

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Our expedition in Ouvéa!
We were aiming to get as many photo IDs ofmanta rays as possible within a week as ourcurrent data on mantas in Ouvéa is insufficient.
At a cleaning station in Mouli, we found thatmanta rays were frequently seen. As such wecould easily obtain photo IDs and observe theirbehaviors. To maximize the number of photoIDs we could obtain, we placed a GoPro in thewaters, programmed to take a picture every
five seconds — capturing the presence ofmanta rays even when we were not able to bein the waters. We found that, in our absence,
there were even more manta rays than we hadthought.

Manta rays have their own personalities. Some are shy and would wait for humans todepart before visiting cleaning stations, while others are more curious.
Photos of manta rays captured by the GoPro :Environmental conditions: What do manta rays prefer?
As part of his Masters, our trainee Solvène Solal studied the links between environmental conditions and the presence of manta rays.
Together with diving clubs in Nouméa, they collected data to explore the relationship between current, visibility, wind, rainfall, tides
and other conditions in the waters and the presence of manta rays.

The goal is to understand the environmental conditions in which manta rays areobserved.
Due to a limited internship period, our data collection was limited to just a few months. We would need to conduct further studies
with more regular sampling efforts to better interpret this data.

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Thanks to the following diveclubs : Abyss, Alizé, Iatok,
Kuendu Dive Safari all the divers
who have kindly agreed to help
us. Join us in this effort – readthe section “We need your help!”
During our study, we noticed that the absence ofmanta rays often coincided with weak currents,
rising tides or with a westerly wind. Other variables
such as rainfall and visibility did not seem to affectthe presence of manta rays. However, not one
environmental condition stood out in these studies,and more studies are required. This excludes extreme weather conditions as it was not safe to dive during those periods.
The only factor that seemingly affects their abundance — descending tides with a medium to strong outgoing current. Manta rays
tend to be more numerous in these conditions.
Manta rays tend to linger — feeding, cleaning and even breeding — during strong current or following heavy rainfall. Following aweak rainfall or visibility of more than 15 meters, manta rays seem to linger less.
Globally, similar studies have shown that the presence of manta rays is due to a food source — an abundance of plankton in thearea. Thus, environmental conditions favouing this food source is related to the presence of manta rays. As the primary objective ofan animal is to feed, it is likely that manta rays will choose cleaning and breeding stations that provide this food source.

COMMUNICATIONSA Facebook page for the Manta
Initiative!
Follow us for the latest news around tagging, results,
information and events related to Manta rays! We will
also be sharing photos and videos so remember to tag
us when you upload your own manta ray photos andvideos taken in New Caledonia!
Feel free to share any Manta-related news with us tooof course whether on the page or via Private Message!
Contributors to the manta ray database (via photos andvideos) will receive information related to the manta
rays you have observed.
Follow us now!

To date, 286 people are following us! Thank you to all and please share this with yourfriends.

5A Manta Initiative Film: theMother of the Coral Sea
The Mother of the Coral Sea, approximately 13 minutes
long, features the best of New Caledonia and MantaRays. Shot by Emmy-award cinematographer Shawn
Heinrichs, the film brings us to the forefront of New
Caledonians and their relationship with nature withstunning images and videography. Learn the story ofthe Manta Initiative team, community members ofOuvéa, and even about a man and his best friend — aclown fish! The waters of New Caledonia has plenty tooffer — and we are committed to protecting thisbiodiversity.

The Manta Initiative would like to thank everyone who helped to realize this project: Shawn Heinrichs, Adrien Oneigaand Bluesphere Production, Marino Tiaou and Mio Palmo, Pierre Kaouma and Les Pléiades Sud Ouvéa, Marjorie Tiaouand Tribal Cut, Marie-Lucette Taoupoulou, the Custom Authorities of Ouvea, and Conservation International.
Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSeHxrbGE84

A Preview in Ouvéa!
Community members in Ouvéa contributed the most to the making of the Mother of the Coral Sea, so it made sense that they wereable to preview the film before it launched! An outdoor screening was held in Mouli, on the Family Festival, in front of more than
100 people. We also screened the film in elementary schools and colleges to educate the youth on the importance of protecting
our biodiversity.

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6An article of the Motherof the Coral Sea,featured in thenewspaper Les Nouvelles
Calédonienne.

The first Underwater Film Festival in
New Caledonia!
The Mother of the Coral Sea was featured in New Caledonia’s firstUnderwater Film Fest in end May. The Manta Initiative team were
present as well to share more insights and perspectives with theaudience.

The Manta Initiative would like to thankSub'Limage for allowing us to participate!

Nocturnes of the Aquarium: Manta rays andscience
The Aquarium des Lagons has dedicated their monthly features to science this year.
Videos, presentations and educational material allowed visitors to learn more about manta
rays and the behind-the-scenes research and methods used by scientists to study theseanimals.

For better manta interactions, follow this guide!
A code of conduct for observing manta rays have been created in collaboration with theManta Trust. This document will provide guidance to divers and anyone who wants to encounter a manta ray. It provides tips toavoid behavior that could disturb manta rays, and guidelines on how to best interact with these majestic animals when they encounterone. It is available online on the Manta Initiative’s Facebook page.

The Manta Initiative at World Oceans’ Day!
On 10 June, at the first World Oceans’ Day organized by PEW, the Manta Initiative and the Aquarium des Lagons connected withmore than 1,000 participants at our booth, educating them on manta rays and the biodiversity in New Caledonia. Our trainee andvolunteers from the Aquarium also showcased an animation on the subject.

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We would like to thank PEW and the Aquarium des Lagons for their support!

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WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The easiest way to help the initiative isby sending us photos or videos of manta
rays. Your photos will contribute to thephoto-identification database andprovide more robust and more accurate
results regarding manta movements andbehaviors.
Facebook : Initiative Manta NouvelleCalédonie
Email mantanc@aquarium.nc with thefollowing information: Location, date,and comments (if any). The submitted
pictures will be analyzed by the Manta
Initiative team and a report detailing all
the information on the observed manta
will be sent to you in return.

Reporting observation of manta rays canhelp us study manta aggregations
better. This can be done through email(seeprevious column) or by filling theinvestigation form that is continuously
distributed via different platforms.

The Manta Initiative relies on citizen
science to observe the movements ofmanta rays within New Caledonia. You
can participate!
Each time you dive in New Caledonia,
note the following information:
Water conditions (such as visibility,current strength and direction)
DateTime
Amount of Manta rays seen
Behavior of Manta rays
Even if you did NOT see any Manta rays,
your data will still be valuable to us!

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