PROJECT OVERVIEW
Mobula Conservation is a collaboration of researchers working for the conservation of threatened mobula rays. We carry out interdisciplinary research that investigates the biology and ecology of mobula rays (also called Devil Rays), with a focus on the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. We use multiple approaches including field research, genetics, tagging, statistical modelling, and policy analysis to produce science that informs conservation. In particular, we study the threat of fisheries bycatch, or accidental capture in fishing gear, and our research aims to develop collaborative solutions to reduce this impact. Most importantly, we work directly with fishers, fisheries managers, and broad collaborations to translate our research into action for these highly vulnerable species.
PROJECT GOAL
The goal of the Mobula Conservation is to develop interdisciplinary scientific research programs that contribute to the biology, ecology, and conservation of Mobula rays.
Main Objectives
To achieve our goal, the Mobula Conservation is working to meet the following objectives:
(1) Research for conservation: To investigate immediate threats to mobulid rays, our research focuses on mobulid habitat use, spatial ecology, oceanographic preferences, and population genetic structure;
(2) Developing effective solutions: Working with fishermen, vessel captains, and fisheries observers, we aim to support the design and implementation of bycatch reduction techniques and methodologies in small and large-scale fisheries.;
(3) Connecting science and people: By developing diver Codes of Conduct and implementing citizen science programs during tourism activities, we aim to enable sustainable ecotourism and empower local communities to protect mobulid rays.
Project Leader - MELISSA CRONIN
Melissa is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Conservation Action Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a Designated Emphasis in Coastal Science & Policy. Her research focuses on understanding mobulid biology and conservation using an interdisciplinary approach. She is working with tuna purse seine fishers and observers to conduct a population genetics study of mobulids in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and hosting workshops with tuna skippers to identify best practices to reduce mobulid bycatch mortality. She is also a National Geographic Young Explorer, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, a P.E.O. Scholar, and a Switzer Foundation Fellow.
Project Leader - Marta D. Palacios
Marta is a Ph.D. Candidate at CICIMAR, Baja California Sur studying the conservation and management of mobulids taken incidentally in artisanal fisheries in Mexico. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Madrid and La Laguna University in the Canary Islands in Spain. During her master’s research, she described the first nursery area for a devil ray species, located in the Baja Peninsula, in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Pelagios Kakunja. She has broad field training, researching and collaborating with international organizations, including: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (Brasil), Department of Conservation (New Zealand), Crystal Divers (Indonesia) and the Charles Darwin Foundation, Manta Trust, and Galapagos National Park (Ecuador).
Project Leader - Nerea Lezama-Ochoa
Nerea is a quantitative marine ecologist and a postdoctoral researcher at the Environmental Research Division (NOAA, Monterey, USA) specializing in large bycatch species. She has a PhD in Fisheries and Conservation from AZTI-Tecnalia (Spain) and completed a postdoc at the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) (San Diego, USA). Her research focuses on the conservation and management of species taken incidentally in tropical tuna purse seine fisheries. She studies the biodiversity and the oceanographic characteristics that describe their spatial distribution in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Her main research interests are ecological modeling, spatial ecology, oceanography, and ecosystem-based management approaches for the conservation of marine top predators. Her current research aims to describe the spatial distribution of mobulid rays using Species Distribution Models (SDM): GAMs, Bayesian approaches (INLA), as well as to study the impact of climate change in some important regions, such as the Gulf of California (modeling poor-data bycatch species). The objective is to identify main hotspots areas of mobulid ray abundance, with the aim of applying spatial closure measures that help to reduce bycatch mortality.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
Dr. Donald Croll, Dr. Felipe Galván Magaña, Dr. Rogelio González Armas, Msc. Kelly Zilliacus, Dr. Josh Stewart, Dr. Martin Hall, Dr Maria Grazia Pennino
Key Achievements
Identified the first nursery area for a pygmy mobula ray in Baja California using acoustic telemetry and traditional tagging.
Collected one of the world’s largest repositories of Mobula ray tissue to study the population structure in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Described the habitat preferences of the mobulid rays through the application of Species Distribution Models to identify hotspots areas for future spatial management in industrial fisheries.
Created a code of conduct for night dive activities with Mobula rays in the Gulf of California.
Trained fishermen to work as ecotourism boat captains and to collect scientific data for Mobula ray monitoring.
Implemented educational programs at schools and research institutions.
