Summer 2023

In March, nations of the world reached agreement on the High Seas Treaty—an effort to protect the vast oceans beyond the jurisdiction of any nation. The treaty will seek to safeguard the tremendous biodiversity of these areas, including our cover animal, the endangered giant manta ray. Closer to shore, an effort is underway to protect giant mantas and a number of other ray species that ply the waters of the Mesoamerican Reef. With help from a Christine Stevens Wildlife Award from AWI, scientists are using noninvasive techniques to assess the diversity, distribution, and abundance of these rays.