Collaborative Ocean Research in BIOT

December 2019

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is one of the least studied manta populations in the world. Getting to BIOT is difficult as there is no permitted tourism and no local residents (other than a US military base). The Manta Trust is extremely fortunate to be part of a large research project studying the oceanographic drivers of productive tropical reef systems with the University of Plymouth.

With twelve scientists from a range of marine disciplines there was a lot of different mini studies going on during the cruise. It certainly wasn’t the most comfortable trip, but everyone returned with a wealth of excellent data to start analysing.