Giant oceanic manta ray observations

Researchers documented the first occurrence of the giant oceanic manta (Mobula birostris) in Spanish waters. Two specimens of the small pelagic fish Bregmaceros atlanticus were captured off El Hierro during a 2012 oceanographic campaign, and a third was found stranded on a Tenerife beach in 2024, confirming the species’ presence in the Atlantic. In September 2023, scientists reported Spain’s first live sighting of a giant oceanic manta near Cabo Tiñoso, alongside the first Mediterranean record of the black whipray, highlighting how warming seas are shifting marine species distributions.

Subsequent coverage emphasized the manta’s ecological role in tropical waters worldwide. With a wingspan exceeding seven metres, the species feeds on plankton and small fish and contributes to marine ecosystem balance. Conservation programs are now focusing on protecting manta populations from by‑catch, pollution, and habitat loss, underscoring the need for continued research and monitoring.

Together, these reports trace a progression from the initial discovery of the manta in Spanish coastal waters to broader recognition of its global importance and the urgent conservation measures required to safeguard the species.