Last Day of Sept/Oct field trip
4th October 2009
Over the period spent in Baa Atoll, most time was spent in and around Hanifaru Bay. Hundreds of manta ray encounters were recorded with the Manta Ray Project research team. At times, one hundred and fifty mantas would feed in the bay at the same time - a truely phenomenal visual display.
Only six whale shark encounters were recorded (a fairly average day at the MWSRP team's usual field of research in South Ari Atoll). Of the six sharks encountered, five individuals were already known and were encountered earlier in the year in South Ari's new Marine Protected Area, four sharks were tagged or re-tagged, including WS051 'Paul' who was previously tagged in May 2009, and one whale shark was new to the database.
Some meetings were jointly hosted by MWSRP and the Manta Ray Project ensuring the tour operators and local community were kept up to speed with the organisations' goals and recent results and discoveries.
The MWSRP guys then returned to South Ari on 30th September 2009 to host many meetings and presentations. Again, local tour operators and communities have been presented with the new findings and any concerns for the future discussed.
Positive meetings took place with Diva Maldives, Vilamendhoo and Euro-Divers to discuss the implementation of funding mechanisms for the new MPA. The MWSRP is hopeful that some funds will start to be generated by the end of 2009.
Special thanks to: Guy Stevens and Rory Moore (The Manta Ray Project), Tom Weber (Villa Diving), Dennis Kaandorp and Mike Cristiani (Euro-Divers), Johnny Mathis (Diva Maldives), Mr Wahhab (Vilamendhoo Island Resort), Kat Brown and Sarah Lewis.
Without whom the trip would not have been possible.