Scientists track wild manta rays in Okinawa to study their movements

The Japan Manta Project in Okinawa is tracking and tagging wild manta rays to try to better understand their movements. Scientists believe findings can also help local communities prepare for environmental changes, as rising sea temperatures may shift where mantas gather in the future.

Ishigaki, part of Okinawa's Yaeyama Islands, is especially known for its year-round aggregation of reef manta rays.

More than 300 reef mantas are known to be active in these islands. Beyond that, little is known about how mantas move through Japanese waters.

Over the past year scientists have been using satellite and GPS tags to track whether the mantas move between islands, how deep they dive and how their movements change between seasons.

The effort will also keep divers from disturbing and coming into physical contact with the animals by staying away from areas with heavy manta activity.