Giant manta ray pups use coastal refuges to avoid predators

A new study published in Frontiers in Fish Science reveals that juvenile giant manta rays in Central America utilize shallow nearshore waters as coastal refuges to avoid predators such as sharks and orcas. Tracking data collected between 2018 and 2025 shows that these pups remain in these safer, food-rich areas until they reach a size that offers better protection.

Once they mature, the rays undergo a dramatic shift in behavior, transitioning from coastal living to executing long-distance transboundary migrations along the continental shelf break. Researchers, including Jeffry Madrigal-Mesén of Mantas Costa Rica, noted that while size eventually protects adults from natural enemies, their migration into the open ocean exposes them to new risks, including industrial fisheries and vessel strikes.

The research team employed a combination of acoustic telemetry, satellite telemetry, and photo identification to track the movements of the rays. The study emphasizes the need for underwater corridors to protect adult mantas during their extensive migrations through unprotected waters.