Located in the northern Yucatan Peninsula, the transition zone of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea is thriving with life. The Manta Caribbean Project aims to identify and conduct research on the poorly understood populations of manta rays (manta birostris and manta alfredi) including a third unidentified subspecies of manta (manta birostris sp.) that is only found in the Mexican Caribbean.

 

Key responsibilities:

• Follow your instructor indications at any time and procedures related with the task assigned to your person.

• Maintain and update the project’s database.

• Perform data analysis and assist with preparing scientific publications, grants applications etc.

• Create outreach materials for schools, and communities about marine megafauna and wider marine conservation

• Maintain equipment and contribute to keeping accommodation facilities clean and in order.

• Conduct fisheries surveys.

• Conduct interviews with local community stakeholders connected with mantas and mobulas.

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Whether you're a marine biologist, videographer, GIS mapping expert, graphic designer or have other skills that you think could be of interest to the project, you can volunteer.

 

While volunteering you will have the chance to work on local conservation projects working with schools, local stakeholders and the general community. You will also learn about manta research, managing the database, photo identification, get some hands-on experience in the field with taking manta ID pictures and taking samples.