Discoveries, research, and conservation initiatives
Developed new techniques to use photo identification and artificial intelligence to study and track populations of whale sharks and other marine animals.[6][7] These are incorporated in
Citizen science programs such as Sharkbook[8] and
Manta Matcher.[9][10][11]
Documented the first recorded sighting of a live
Smalleye Stingray underwater in 2009 and then the first successful tag of "the World's biggest ocean stingray"[21] in 2023.
Completed the first study of
South Florida manta ray population Luu,[22] and created what was reported to be the first digital 3D manta ray model with the Digital Life Project and ANGARI Foundation.[22]
Uncovered
illegal Chinese fishing practices after a whale shark named "Hope" with a satellite tag tracked by MMF was killed in Galapagos. This incident resulted in expansion of the Marine Protected Zone around the Galapagos.[23][24][25]
Created “Ocean Guardians” conservation education project in Mozambique recognized by UNESCO.[26]
^Marshall, A., Barreto, R., Carlson, J., Fernando, D., Fordham, S., Francis, M.P., Herman, K., Jabado, R.W., Liu, K.M., Pacoureau, N., Rigby, C.L., Romanov, E. & Sherley, R.B. 2022. Mobula alfredi (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T195459A214395983.
doi:
10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T195459A214395983.en. Accessed on 31 January 2023.
^Marshall, A., Barreto, R., Carlson, J., Fernando, D., Fordham, S., Francis, M.P., Derrick, D., Herman, K., Jabado, R.W., Liu, K.M., Rigby, C.L. & Romanov, E. 2022. Mobula birostris (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T198921A214397182.
doi:
10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T198921A214397182.en. Accessed on 31 January 2023.