two decades ago we knew almost nothing about the world’s largest ray one of the
about the world’s largest ray one of the
about the world’s largest ray one of the biggest fish in our ocean less than ten
biggest fish in our ocean less than ten
biggest fish in our ocean less than ten years ago the conservation status of
years ago the conservation status of
years ago the conservation status of this animal was still listed as data
this animal was still listed as data
this animal was still listed as data deficient highlighting the fact that we
deficient highlighting the fact that we
deficient highlighting the fact that we didn’t know very much about its ecology
didn’t know very much about its ecology
didn’t know very much about its ecology or population trends in the wild five
or population trends in the wild five
or population trends in the wild five years ago we still thought there was a
years ago we still thought there was a
years ago we still thought there was a single species of Manta roaming the
single species of Manta roaming the
single species of Manta roaming the world’s oceans people often refer to me
world’s oceans people often refer to me
world’s oceans people often refer to me as a obsessive specie ologist
as a obsessive specie ologist
as a obsessive specie ologist most people call me a conservation
most people call me a conservation
most people call me a conservation biologist which is true and now an
biologist which is true and now an
biologist which is true and now an emerging Explorer I don’t know I’m
emerging Explorer I don’t know I’m
emerging Explorer I don’t know I’m actually just a girl that likes fish I
actually just a girl that likes fish I
actually just a girl that likes fish I grew up inspired by great explorers as
grew up inspired by great explorers as
grew up inspired by great explorers as probably many of you did and you know
probably many of you did and you know
probably many of you did and you know the likes of Jacques Cousteau and Sylvia
the likes of Jacques Cousteau and Sylvia
the likes of Jacques Cousteau and Sylvia Earle eminent Hyo Wilson and these
Earle eminent Hyo Wilson and these
Earle eminent Hyo Wilson and these people really inspired me and and I
people really inspired me and and I
people really inspired me and and I admired their dedication and their
admired their dedication and their
admired their dedication and their passion but most of all I also
passion but most of all I also
passion but most of all I also appreciated that each one of them seemed
appreciated that each one of them seemed
appreciated that each one of them seemed to share a similar philosophy they
to share a similar philosophy they
to share a similar philosophy they seemed to understand that it would take
seemed to understand that it would take
seemed to understand that it would take careful long-term investigation to
careful long-term investigation to
careful long-term investigation to unravel ecological mysteries and they
unravel ecological mysteries and they
unravel ecological mysteries and they chose to take us along for that journey
chose to take us along for that journey
chose to take us along for that journey I was in love with the ocean before I’d
I was in love with the ocean before I’d
I was in love with the ocean before I’d even been underneath the ocean I was
even been underneath the ocean I was
even been underneath the ocean I was begging my parents let me learn how to
begging my parents let me learn how to
begging my parents let me learn how to dive I got certified on my 12th birthday
dive I got certified on my 12th birthday
dive I got certified on my 12th birthday I went to marine biology camps every
I went to marine biology camps every
I went to marine biology camps every single summer of my youth I was I was
single summer of my youth I was I was
single summer of my youth I was I was that kid and in graduate school finally
that kid and in graduate school finally
that kid and in graduate school finally a marine biologist in my own right I was
a marine biologist in my own right I was
a marine biologist in my own right I was just desperate to immerse myself in
just desperate to immerse myself in
just desperate to immerse myself in biological problem solving I too like
biological problem solving I too like
biological problem solving I too like Jane Goodall wanted to just get out
Jane Goodall wanted to just get out
Jane Goodall wanted to just get out there do stuff learn about a specific
there do stuff learn about a specific
there do stuff learn about a specific species but I I needed to travel I
species but I I needed to travel I
species but I I needed to travel I needed to find my inspiration figure out
needed to find my inspiration figure out
needed to find my inspiration figure out what it is that I was meant to do and I
what it is that I was meant to do and I
what it is that I was meant to do and I was drawn to Africa that’s where I still
was drawn to Africa that’s where I still
was drawn to Africa that’s where I still live and there I was inspired I was
live and there I was inspired I was
live and there I was inspired I was inspired at a workshop for the IUCN I
inspired at a workshop for the IUCN I
inspired at a workshop for the IUCN I was asked to come and help with
was asked to come and help with
was asked to come and help with conservation assessments for their red
conservation assessments for their red
conservation assessments for their red list and I was asked to help evaluate
list and I was asked to help evaluate
list and I was asked to help evaluate the the status of the giant manta ray
the the status of the giant manta ray
the the status of the giant manta ray and it became very clear to us that week
and it became very clear to us that week
and it became very clear to us that week that we know nothing about this animal
that we know nothing about this animal
that we know nothing about this animal or we didn’t at the time and it was not
or we didn’t at the time and it was not
or we didn’t at the time and it was not a real shocker that by the end of the
a real shocker that by the end of the
a real shocker that by the end of the week we had to list this
week we had to list this
week we had to list this as data deficient because we were unable
as data deficient because we were unable
as data deficient because we were unable to assess its conservation status you
to assess its conservation status you
to assess its conservation status you know it’s awful feeling but the wheels
know it’s awful feeling but the wheels
know it’s awful feeling but the wheels had started to turn in my mind I’ve been
had started to turn in my mind I’ve been
had started to turn in my mind I’ve been in love with mantas probably since a
in love with mantas probably since a
in love with mantas probably since a very first moment I saw one underwater
very first moment I saw one underwater
very first moment I saw one underwater and if you haven’t seen one get out
and if you haven’t seen one get out
and if you haven’t seen one get out there and do it
there and do it
there and do it these are awesome animals it’s about the
these are awesome animals it’s about the
these are awesome animals it’s about the coolest you know experience that you can
coolest you know experience that you can
coolest you know experience that you can have underwater with a fish they are
have underwater with a fish they are
have underwater with a fish they are intelligent and curious that the largest
intelligent and curious that the largest
intelligent and curious that the largest brain of any fish these are animals that
brain of any fish these are animals that
brain of any fish these are animals that behave like mammals even though they’re
behave like mammals even though they’re
behave like mammals even though they’re fish they don’t swim away from you they
fish they don’t swim away from you they
fish they don’t swim away from you they swim towards you they love to play there
swim towards you they love to play there
swim towards you they love to play there in curious they engage you underwater
in curious they engage you underwater
in curious they engage you underwater but for the first time I was seeing them
but for the first time I was seeing them
but for the first time I was seeing them not as an animal that I love to dive
not as an animal that I love to dive
not as an animal that I love to dive with not as an animal that I just like
with not as an animal that I just like
with not as an animal that I just like to take photographs of but as an animal
to take photographs of but as an animal
to take photographs of but as an animal that had been overlooked that needed
that had been overlooked that needed
that had been overlooked that needed scientific attention my attention and as
scientific attention my attention and as
scientific attention my attention and as happenstance would have it I had been
happenstance would have it I had been
happenstance would have it I had been doing exploratory diving off the very
doing exploratory diving off the very
doing exploratory diving off the very remote and undeveloped coastline of
remote and undeveloped coastline of
remote and undeveloped coastline of Mozambique and wow what an awesome time
Mozambique and wow what an awesome time
Mozambique and wow what an awesome time of my life you know
of my life you know
of my life you know diving places that maybe no one had ever
diving places that maybe no one had ever
diving places that maybe no one had ever drove before camping along uninhabited
drove before camping along uninhabited
drove before camping along uninhabited beaches I would recommend it it’s a
beaches I would recommend it it’s a
beaches I would recommend it it’s a great experience but as a biologist what
great experience but as a biologist what
great experience but as a biologist what really moved me what jumped out at me
really moved me what jumped out at me
really moved me what jumped out at me was just the number of megafauna off
was just the number of megafauna off
was just the number of megafauna off this coastline the abundance and
this coastline the abundance and
this coastline the abundance and diversity of megafires like the
diversity of megafires like the
diversity of megafires like the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean and you
Galapagos of the Indian Ocean and you
Galapagos of the Indian Ocean and you know every day on the way to our dives
know every day on the way to our dives
know every day on the way to our dives we were tripping over whale sharks and
we were tripping over whale sharks and
we were tripping over whale sharks and there was huge pods of dolphins and
there was huge pods of dolphins and
there was huge pods of dolphins and whales and you know other threatened
whales and you know other threatened
whales and you know other threatened marine life marine turtles and mantas
marine life marine turtles and mantas
marine life marine turtles and mantas important distinction lots of them so
important distinction lots of them so
important distinction lots of them so this was my opportunity this is my
this was my opportunity this is my
this was my opportunity this is my opportunity to give back do something an
opportunity to give back do something an
opportunity to give back do something an animal that had not been really worked
animal that had not been really worked
animal that had not been really worked on before probably for lack of
on before probably for lack of
on before probably for lack of opportunity and a paucity of data that
opportunity and a paucity of data that
opportunity and a paucity of data that was hampering its conservation status
was hampering its conservation status
was hampering its conservation status listing and so this was how I was going
listing and so this was how I was going
listing and so this was how I was going to contribute this is how I was going to
to contribute this is how I was going to
to contribute this is how I was going to give back and so I began the very slow
give back and so I began the very slow
give back and so I began the very slow road of trying to develop a research
road of trying to develop a research
road of trying to develop a research program out in the middle of nowhere on
program out in the middle of nowhere on
program out in the middle of nowhere on these animals and it was rough going at
these animals and it was rough going at
these animals and it was rough going at first it was logistically what a
first it was logistically what a
first it was logistically what a nightmare and it was expensive and messy
nightmare and it was expensive and messy
nightmare and it was expensive and messy often times I had to actually cash in my
often times I had to actually cash in my
often times I had to actually cash in my life savings as a young student to just
life savings as a young student to just
life savings as a young student to just fund a
fund a
fund a let’s study when my university in
let’s study when my university in
let’s study when my university in Australia found this idea a little out
Australia found this idea a little out
Australia found this idea a little out there and the fact was though is that I
there and the fact was though is that I
there and the fact was though is that I was learning things and I was inspired
was learning things and I was inspired
was learning things and I was inspired by that we were learning amazing things
by that we were learning amazing things
by that we were learning amazing things things that weren’t in any of the
things that weren’t in any of the
things that weren’t in any of the current literature on these animals so
current literature on these animals so
current literature on these animals so obviously we were doing something right
obviously we were doing something right
obviously we were doing something right and I wanted to keep going what seemed
and I wanted to keep going what seemed
and I wanted to keep going what seemed like an near impossible goal for a 23
like an near impossible goal for a 23
like an near impossible goal for a 23 year old American girl out in the middle
year old American girl out in the middle
year old American girl out in the middle of nowhere in Africa by herself slowly
of nowhere in Africa by herself slowly
of nowhere in Africa by herself slowly started to become something that could
started to become something that could
started to become something that could be possible and people rallied behind my
be possible and people rallied behind my
be possible and people rallied behind my efforts there it was so fantastic and in
efforts there it was so fantastic and in
efforts there it was so fantastic and in those early years I had to remember that
those early years I had to remember that
those early years I had to remember that I needed to pace myself that it had
I needed to pace myself that it had
I needed to pace myself that it had taken some of my greatest heroes a
taken some of my greatest heroes a
taken some of my greatest heroes a lifetime to tease out you know this
lifetime to tease out you know this
lifetime to tease out you know this ecological information on the animals
ecological information on the animals
ecological information on the animals they were working on and if I was going
they were working on and if I was going
they were working on and if I was going to go down that same road I would have
to go down that same road I would have
to go down that same road I would have to expect that was going to take me a
to expect that was going to take me a
to expect that was going to take me a long time too so like any good plan I
long time too so like any good plan I
long time too so like any good plan I needed a strategy and I thought back to
needed a strategy and I thought back to
needed a strategy and I thought back to the conservation assessment of this
the conservation assessment of this
the conservation assessment of this animals data deficient what was it
animals data deficient what was it
animals data deficient what was it missing biological information life
missing biological information life
missing biological information life history parameters abundance estimates
history parameters abundance estimates
history parameters abundance estimates population trends so that should be easy
population trends so that should be easy
population trends so that should be easy right but I took each challenge as a
right but I took each challenge as a
right but I took each challenge as a separate issue and and I devised a way
separate issue and and I devised a way
separate issue and and I devised a way of how to attack it my first issue was
of how to attack it my first issue was
of how to attack it my first issue was just how do we study these animals in
just how do we study these animals in
just how do we study these animals in the wild people had already identified
the wild people had already identified
the wild people had already identified that manta rays have individual spot
that manta rays have individual spot
that manta rays have individual spot patterning on them that’s individual to
patterning on them that’s individual to
patterning on them that’s individual to different animals you know like a
different animals you know like a
different animals you know like a fingerprint and what I wanted to know is
fingerprint and what I wanted to know is
fingerprint and what I wanted to know is could I take this individual patterning
could I take this individual patterning
could I take this individual patterning and use it as a mark a permanent mark
and use it as a mark a permanent mark
and use it as a mark a permanent mark and study these animals non-intrusive ly
and study these animals non-intrusive ly
and study these animals non-intrusive ly through photography carefully just
through photography carefully just
through photography carefully just making observations of individuals over
making observations of individuals over
making observations of individuals over time and learning more about them and
time and learning more about them and
time and learning more about them and then obviously collectively about
then obviously collectively about
then obviously collectively about populations that we were interested in
populations that we were interested in
populations that we were interested in and the answer to every single one of
and the answer to every single one of
and the answer to every single one of those questions is a resounding yes
those questions is a resounding yes
those questions is a resounding yes we can I’ve now spent thousands of dives
we can I’ve now spent thousands of dives
we can I’ve now spent thousands of dives under water carefully investigating
under water carefully investigating
under water carefully investigating these animals learning more about them
these animals learning more about them
these animals learning more about them we’ve learned about their natural
we’ve learned about their natural
we’ve learned about their natural behaviors they’re really secretive
behaviors they’re really secretive
behaviors they’re really secretive behaviors like reproductive ecology
behaviors like reproductive ecology
behaviors like reproductive ecology we’ve learned about their movements and
we’ve learned about their movements and
we’ve learned about their movements and their migrations through this
their migrations through this
their migrations through this methodology we were able to estimate for
methodology we were able to estimate for
methodology we were able to estimate for the very first time the abundance I had
the very first time the abundance I had
the very first time the abundance I had a monitored site something has never
a monitored site something has never
a monitored site something has never been attempted before we learned about
been attempted before we learned about
been attempted before we learned about their natural pressures from predation
their natural pressures from predation
their natural pressures from predation they’re not so natural
they’re not so natural
they’re not so natural from us I completed the first ph.d
from us I completed the first ph.d
from us I completed the first ph.d program first deep PhD project on manta
program first deep PhD project on manta
program first deep PhD project on manta rays demonstrating that these animals
rays demonstrating that these animals
rays demonstrating that these animals can and must continue to be studied in
can and must continue to be studied in
can and must continue to be studied in the wild I’m happy to say that there are
the wild I’m happy to say that there are
the wild I’m happy to say that there are many many PhD studies underway now for
many many PhD studies underway now for
many many PhD studies underway now for manta rays and in the middle of all of
manta rays and in the middle of all of
manta rays and in the middle of all of this we described a new species of manta
this we described a new species of manta
this we described a new species of manta it’s not my intention it just kind of
it’s not my intention it just kind of
it’s not my intention it just kind of popped up and it popped up early in my
popped up and it popped up early in my
popped up and it popped up early in my studies and the reason for it is because
studies and the reason for it is because
studies and the reason for it is because no one had really spent time in the wild
no one had really spent time in the wild
no one had really spent time in the wild with these animals before natural
with these animals before natural
with these animals before natural observation just wasn’t there and it’s
observation just wasn’t there and it’s
observation just wasn’t there and it’s and it’s not because they don’t look
and it’s not because they don’t look
and it’s not because they don’t look different because they do and they not
different because they do and they not
different because they do and they not just look different they behave
just look different they behave
just look different they behave different they lead different lives to a
different they lead different lives to a
different they lead different lives to a large extent they live in different
large extent they live in different
large extent they live in different places so that wasn’t the issue I at
places so that wasn’t the issue I at
places so that wasn’t the issue I at that time you know my work had had gone
that time you know my work had had gone
that time you know my work had had gone international and I was doing work
international and I was doing work
international and I was doing work across the globe and it was hard to
across the globe and it was hard to
across the globe and it was hard to ignore the the growing global trends
ignore the the growing global trends
ignore the the growing global trends Manta populations that were once stable
Manta populations that were once stable
Manta populations that were once stable were now in decline there’s rises and a
were now in decline there’s rises and a
were now in decline there’s rises and a new fishery for these animals where
new fishery for these animals where
new fishery for these animals where people would directly hunt mantas to
people would directly hunt mantas to
people would directly hunt mantas to extract their gill rakers to use in
extract their gill rakers to use in
extract their gill rakers to use in bogus Chinese medicinal tonic and even
bogus Chinese medicinal tonic and even
bogus Chinese medicinal tonic and even though this was really disturbing we
though this was really disturbing we
though this was really disturbing we were starting to say we’re gonna fight
were starting to say we’re gonna fight
were starting to say we’re gonna fight back we’re gonna use all the information
back we’re gonna use all the information
back we’re gonna use all the information that we’ve been ascertaining over the
that we’ve been ascertaining over the
that we’ve been ascertaining over the last decade to be able to fight this be
last decade to be able to fight this be
last decade to be able to fight this be able to work on conservation and we did
able to work on conservation and we did
able to work on conservation and we did we used all the information that we had
we used all the information that we had
we used all the information that we had to to fight that data deficient red list
to to fight that data deficient red list
to to fight that data deficient red list assessment and year after year we kept
assessment and year after year we kept
assessment and year after year we kept reevaluating them until finally in 2011
reevaluating them until finally in 2011
reevaluating them until finally in 2011 they were declared a threatened species
they were declared a threatened species
they were declared a threatened species worldwide as vulnerable to extinction
worldwide as vulnerable to extinction
worldwide as vulnerable to extinction and my research program changed
and my research program changed
and my research program changed overnight I abandoned you know worked on
overnight I abandoned you know worked on
overnight I abandoned you know worked on just pure ecology and then I put all my
just pure ecology and then I put all my
just pure ecology and then I put all my focus into conservation we started
focus into conservation we started
focus into conservation we started integrating technology into our research
integrating technology into our research
integrating technology into our research program so that we could better
program so that we could better
program so that we could better understand how to manage these these
understand how to manage these these
understand how to manage these these animals and the populations in different
animals and the populations in different
animals and the populations in different areas of the world deploying tags with
areas of the world deploying tags with
areas of the world deploying tags with advanced satellite technology we were
advanced satellite technology we were
advanced satellite technology we were able to track these animals where they
able to track these animals where they
able to track these animals where they went learn more about their migrations
went learn more about their migrations
went learn more about their migrations learn more about their habits and this
learn more about their habits and this
learn more about their habits and this technology improved in
technology improved in
technology improved in people for us we were able to understand
people for us we were able to understand
people for us we were able to understand for the first time that these animals
for the first time that these animals
for the first time that these animals travel long distances in short periods
travel long distances in short periods
travel long distances in short periods of time use vast horizontal planes in
of time use vast horizontal planes in
of time use vast horizontal planes in the ocean travel into the high seas
the ocean travel into the high seas
the ocean travel into the high seas unprotected areas and unbelievably are
unprotected areas and unbelievably are
unprotected areas and unbelievably are using really deep parts of our oceans
using really deep parts of our oceans
using really deep parts of our oceans the bath people ajik parts of our oceans
the bath people ajik parts of our oceans
the bath people ajik parts of our oceans over 4,500 feet from the surface what
over 4,500 feet from the surface what
over 4,500 feet from the surface what they’re doing down there
they’re doing down there
they’re doing down there I don’t know so the people that say that
I don’t know so the people that say that
I don’t know so the people that say that there’s nothing left to discover that
there’s nothing left to discover that
there’s nothing left to discover that that everything’s been done are you guys
that everything’s been done are you guys
that everything’s been done are you guys out of your mind
out of your mind
out of your mind you know ordinary people are discovering
you know ordinary people are discovering
you know ordinary people are discovering extraordinary things every day just pick
extraordinary things every day just pick
extraordinary things every day just pick up a National Geographic magazine right
up a National Geographic magazine right
up a National Geographic magazine right and you know for us we had totally
and you know for us we had totally
and you know for us we had totally underestimated this animal myself
underestimated this animal myself
underestimated this animal myself included and now that we had
included and now that we had
included and now that we had underestimated them and we were learning
underestimated them and we were learning
underestimated them and we were learning more about them we needed to act we
more about them we needed to act we
more about them we needed to act we needed to do something so with my
needed to do something so with my
needed to do something so with my Ecuadorian team we put together a
Ecuadorian team we put together a
Ecuadorian team we put together a proposal to list these animals on the
proposal to list these animals on the
proposal to list these animals on the convention for migratory species Act it
convention for migratory species Act it
convention for migratory species Act it was a bold move and we weren’t sure if
was a bold move and we weren’t sure if
was a bold move and we weren’t sure if it was going to work but because we had
it was going to work but because we had
it was going to work but because we had started collecting all of this
started collecting all of this
started collecting all of this information on these animals the
information on these animals the
information on these animals the proposal was full of good science and
proposal was full of good science and
proposal was full of good science and unbelievably in 2011 mantarays became
unbelievably in 2011 mantarays became
unbelievably in 2011 mantarays became the very first ray species in history to
the very first ray species in history to
the very first ray species in history to be listed on this act what about this
be listed on this act what about this
be listed on this act what about this unsustainable international fishing
unsustainable international fishing
unsustainable international fishing trade I was telling you about well that
trade I was telling you about well that
trade I was telling you about well that same Ecuadorian team and I put together
same Ecuadorian team and I put together
same Ecuadorian team and I put together a proposal not a year later to try and
a proposal not a year later to try and
a proposal not a year later to try and list these species actually both species
list these species actually both species
list these species actually both species of mantas on site YZ sides– is an
of mantas on site YZ sides– is an
of mantas on site YZ sides– is an intergovernmental treaty that aims to
intergovernmental treaty that aims to
intergovernmental treaty that aims to try and make sure that that
try and make sure that that
try and make sure that that international trade doesn’t negatively
international trade doesn’t negatively
international trade doesn’t negatively influence our wild flora and fauna and
influence our wild flora and fauna and
influence our wild flora and fauna and my team in Mozambique took our 10 year
my team in Mozambique took our 10 year
my team in Mozambique took our 10 year data sets and put together a publication
data sets and put together a publication
data sets and put together a publication to demonstrate that there have been an
to demonstrate that there have been an
to demonstrate that there have been an 88% decline in our population in the
88% decline in our population in the
88% decline in our population in the South of Mozambique over the last ten
South of Mozambique over the last ten
South of Mozambique over the last ten years in response to apparently a very
years in response to apparently a very
years in response to apparently a very small artisanal fisheries air and if
small artisanal fisheries air and if
small artisanal fisheries air and if that wasn’t evidence enough of why we
that wasn’t evidence enough of why we
that wasn’t evidence enough of why we needed to protect them we also
needed to protect them we also
needed to protect them we also demonstrated through our reproductive
demonstrated through our reproductive
demonstrated through our reproductive ecology worked at these are some of the
ecology worked at these are some of the
ecology worked at these are some of the most
most
most serve ative animals especially in the
serve ative animals especially in the
serve ative animals especially in the shark and Ray group that there that
shark and Ray group that there that
shark and Ray group that there that there are manta rays have very small
there are manta rays have very small
there are manta rays have very small litter sizes they only have one baby
litter sizes they only have one baby
litter sizes they only have one baby every two to three years or so on
every two to three years or so on
every two to three years or so on average to give it to you in other terms
average to give it to you in other terms
average to give it to you in other terms most shark and Ray species will have
most shark and Ray species will have
most shark and Ray species will have more offspring in a single litter than
more offspring in a single litter than
more offspring in a single litter than manta rays will have over the entire
manta rays will have over the entire
manta rays will have over the entire course of their lifetime so we started
course of their lifetime so we started
course of their lifetime so we started to use these this different information
to use these this different information
to use these this different information and probably one of the most passionate
and probably one of the most passionate
and probably one of the most passionate appeals that I’ve ever seen to
appeals that I’ve ever seen to
appeals that I’ve ever seen to government to try and get these animals
government to try and get these animals
government to try and get these animals listed on CDs and in Bangkok this year
listed on CDs and in Bangkok this year
listed on CDs and in Bangkok this year in March we were successful in getting
in March we were successful in getting
in March we were successful in getting them awarded appendix to listing it was
them awarded appendix to listing it was
them awarded appendix to listing it was just awesome I was really moved by
just awesome I was really moved by
just awesome I was really moved by international collaboration researchers
international collaboration researchers
international collaboration researchers coming together for this common cause I
coming together for this common cause I
coming together for this common cause I was really moved by the fact that the
was really moved by the fact that the
was really moved by the fact that the public was behind us and I wanted to
public was behind us and I wanted to
public was behind us and I wanted to harness that passion and that support
harness that passion and that support
harness that passion and that support from the public so I had this idea to
from the public so I had this idea to
from the public so I had this idea to create the first automated global online
create the first automated global online
create the first automated global online database for manta rays it’s called
database for manta rays it’s called
database for manta rays it’s called manta matcher it’s not a manta ray
manta matcher it’s not a manta ray
manta matcher it’s not a manta ray dating site what it’s supposed to do is
dating site what it’s supposed to do is
dating site what it’s supposed to do is it’s supposed to promote the ordinary
it’s supposed to promote the ordinary
it’s supposed to promote the ordinary people to pick up a camera and
people to pick up a camera and
people to pick up a camera and contribute to a global scientific
contribute to a global scientific
contribute to a global scientific initiative and it helps researchers use
initiative and it helps researchers use
initiative and it helps researchers use their data and helps them share their
their data and helps them share their
their data and helps them share their data with other researchers because
data with other researchers because
data with other researchers because international collaboration is just so
international collaboration is just so
international collaboration is just so important and the result is quite
important and the result is quite
important and the result is quite literally one of the best examples that
literally one of the best examples that
literally one of the best examples that I’ve currently seen on a
I’ve currently seen on a
I’ve currently seen on a multidisciplinary approach to solving a
multidisciplinary approach to solving a
multidisciplinary approach to solving a wildlife conservation issue through you
wildlife conservation issue through you
wildlife conservation issue through you know shared collaborative research and
know shared collaborative research and
know shared collaborative research and also public support that’s what we need
also public support that’s what we need
also public support that’s what we need to be striving towards I think two
to be striving towards I think two
to be striving towards I think two decades ago we knew almost nothing about
decades ago we knew almost nothing about
decades ago we knew almost nothing about the world’s largest Ray what we have
the world’s largest Ray what we have
the world’s largest Ray what we have found out has shocked us as broken
found out has shocked us as broken
found out has shocked us as broken natural records has inspired us to
natural records has inspired us to
natural records has inspired us to evolve new ways to how to protect them
evolve new ways to how to protect them
evolve new ways to how to protect them you know it’s amazing what we can
you know it’s amazing what we can
you know it’s amazing what we can achieve it’s a real testament it speaks
achieve it’s a real testament it speaks
achieve it’s a real testament it speaks to the heart of exploration and what we
to the heart of exploration and what we
to the heart of exploration and what we as humans can do if we set our mind to
as humans can do if we set our mind to
as humans can do if we set our mind to it
it
it obsessive specie ologist
obsessive specie ologist
obsessive specie ologist maybe but I think the problems of the
maybe but I think the problems of the
maybe but I think the problems of the oceans are going to be solved one
oceans are going to be solved one
oceans are going to be solved one species
species
species at a time region by region saving one
at a time region by region saving one
at a time region by region saving one critical habitat after the next that’s
critical habitat after the next that’s
critical habitat after the next that’s what I believe and I know that a lot of
what I believe and I know that a lot of
what I believe and I know that a lot of things need to change how we as humans
things need to change how we as humans
things need to change how we as humans view the ocean how we use this resource
view the ocean how we use this resource
view the ocean how we use this resource our impacts on it but I I truly feel
our impacts on it but I I truly feel
our impacts on it but I I truly feel that we have to inspire exploration and
that we have to inspire exploration and
that we have to inspire exploration and we have to allow people to be creative
we have to allow people to be creative
we have to allow people to be creative we have to encourage people to dare to
we have to encourage people to dare to
we have to encourage people to dare to make a difference to use each one of our
make a difference to use each one of our
make a difference to use each one of our individual talents and we all have so
individual talents and we all have so
individual talents and we all have so many to try and solve these problems
many to try and solve these problems
many to try and solve these problems I’ve taken on the challenge of trying to
I’ve taken on the challenge of trying to
I’ve taken on the challenge of trying to save some of the oceans largest fish and
save some of the oceans largest fish and
save some of the oceans largest fish and I’m trying to create a manta army to
I’m trying to create a manta army to
I’m trying to create a manta army to help me do so but I think if we’re going
help me do so but I think if we’re going
help me do so but I think if we’re going to change the future of our oceans and
to change the future of our oceans and
to change the future of our oceans and change the future of our planet we need
change the future of our planet we need
change the future of our planet we need to encourage these people to dare to
to encourage these people to dare to
to encourage these people to dare to make a difference we need more explorers
make a difference we need more explorers
make a difference we need more explorers we need more ambassadors we need more
we need more ambassadors we need more
we need more ambassadors we need more people to to dream big and I’m so proud
people to to dream big and I’m so proud
people to to dream big and I’m so proud to be a part of a organization now that
to be a part of a organization now that
to be a part of a organization now that is helping to to push that philosophy
is helping to to push that philosophy
is helping to to push that philosophy and who really believes in exploration
and who really believes in exploration
and who really believes in exploration so thank you very much and I look
so thank you very much and I look
so thank you very much and I look forward to talking with each and every
forward to talking with each and every
forward to talking with each and every one of you hopefully over the course of
one of you hopefully over the course of
one of you hopefully over the course of this week
”
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