Marine Megafauna Foundation

Reef Closure Success - Marine Megafauna Foundation

In this VR video, you will visit Tofo, Mozambique, the home of Marine Megafauna Foundation. On this day, we celebrate the success of a six-month reef closure off the coast of Tofo bay. Meet members of the team and local fishermen to hear what they have to say about the project.

Myanmar tagging expedition

Join Dr Andrea Marshall and her PhD student Daniel Van Duinkerken on a recent satellite tagging expedition in Myanmar and Thailand.

MMF Team #Breach

Let us show you how our MMF team in Tofo #breach!

Our team of scientists, researchers, volunteers and staff are passionate about the importance of protecting marine megafauna so we are showing our support by displaying our breaching skills.

Share your support and #SaveOceanGiants by filming your own #breach and sharing it on social media. Nominate your friends and lets raise awareness of these beautiful and charismatic species and help to protect them. Anthropogenic threats are the main issue facing marine megafauna and our oceans' health, from climate change to overfishing.

Find out more at

And share your #breaching skills on our social media sites:
MMF's flagship conservation project in Mozambique, the Sustainable Seas Project, works towards protecting the Inhambane coastline and its marine life through collaboration with local communities. As part of the project, we organised a week of workshops for ambassadors representing the communities who fish in the waters of Tofo.

Over the week, the ambassadors learn about marine ecology and diversity, the richness of their coastline and the importance of protecting it. They also learnt about sustainable fishing methods that will allow fish populations to rejuvenate and remain fishable for years to come. Find out more about the project in our video or check out our blog:

marinemegafauna.org

Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:

Video by Finn White-Thomson:

Sentinels of Bazaruto

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was Mozambique’s first national park and is the only marine protected area in the Inhambane Province. It is frequented by our focal megafauna species, manta rays and whale sharks, and is home to 250-350 dugong, the last viable population of dugongs in East Africa. To empower the rangers who are tasked with enforcing the Park rules, MMF with I AM WATER Conservation Trust, spent a week providing the rangers with the necessary training to better improve the Park.

Marine Megafauna Foundation 2015: A Year in Review

2015 has been a big year for MMF. Thank you so much for your support! Together we were able to conduct research in 8 countries, our youth education program Nemos Pequenos was government approved to be implemented into school curriculum in Mozambique, and we have been assisting in management plans and proposals to create more Marine Protected Areas.

Next year we'll continue our global research, whilst also focusing on MMF's flagship conservation project Sustainable Seas, where we expect to combat the decline in whale shark and manta ray populations in Mozambican waters through collaboration with local fishing communities.

Underwater Africa Marine Megafauna Experience

Underwater Africa is a structured volunteer research program aimed at involving nature enthusiasts and aspiring scientists in the world-class research conducted at Marine Megafauna Foundation’s main facility in Tofo Beach, Mozambique.

The Underwater Africa program was designed by world-leading manta ray researcher and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dr. Andrea Marshall and whale shark conservation biologist Dr. Simon Pierce, founders of the Marine Megafauna Foundation. Participants will assist with various research and conservation projects in the area, including with MMF's whale shark, manta ray, and marine turtle research programs. By working with Underwater Africa you will be aiding the Marine Megafauna Foundation as this program was specifically designed to collect data for our Foundation.

Our team at Underwater Africa has crafted a program where volunteers will get hands-on experience in field research in one of the most beautiful coastal locations in Africa. Southern Mozambique is home to some of Africa’s largest marine megafauna populations (e.g. whale sharks, manta rays, marine turtles, Dolphins, Humpback whales from June till the end of September, etc.) and is also an important refuge for other threatened marine species like the elusive dugong. During their stay, volunteers will have a chance to engage with world leading researchers from the Marine Megafauna Foundation and assist with research and conservation efforts. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with local communities by supporting our education programs including our swimming program, which teaches young local children to become drown proof and swim.

Daily activities will include research dives and ocean snorkel safaris with Tofo’s ‘hottest’ dive centre, Peri-Peri Divers, estuary tours on a local dhaw sail boat, wildlife photography interaction, scientific equipment maintenance, data entry & analysis, etc. Volunteers will get to interact daily with scientists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, and will attend weekly public and private presentations on various scientific and marine-related topics. The longer your stay, the wider range of activities you will become involved in and more increased responsibilities you will have.

While previous dive experience is recommended, diving certification is included in your package (or free additional dives if already certified).

For more information please visit:
underwaterafrica.com
marinemegafauna.org

For inquiries, please email rowan.klaassen@marinemegafauna.org

Finding Mozambique's Nemos

Nemos Pequenos is the Marine Megafauna Foundation's flagship education program in Mozambique. We work in schools to teach children about our oceans, the creatures which inhabit them, and ways we can protect them. Additionally, through the Nemos Pequenos swimming lessons we teach Mozambican children how to swim and hope to inspire in them a love of the ocean and a desire to protect it.

marinemegafauna.org

Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:

MMF Guide to Manta Rays

Find out what threats manta rays face, how important they are in the sea are economically presented by MMF Research Manager Anna Flam.

MMF Mozambique - Activities Overview (Portuguese)

A base operacional de MMF está activa há mais de 10 anos. Com uma solução de programas integrados que inclui Investigação, Conservação e Educção, o nosso objectivo é informar, influenciar e emponderar mozambicanos para proteger o seu oceano.

Os nossos parceiros locais e internacionais são cruciais para atingirmos o nosso sucesso. Através da cultivação de relações duradouras com entidades que são apaixonadas pela a nossa causa e com especialistas nos seu âmbitos de foco, conseguimos ter esperança para alcançar a nossa missão: salvar os gigantes marinhos da extinção. Esperamos que este vídeo dê claridade às nossas actividades e inspirar mais pessoas a agir.

Garantimos transparência, integridade e excelência em tudo o que fazemos, também para garantir a confiança de todas entidades com quem trabalhamos. Investimos em alta tecnologia, que nos permite implementar soluções de conservação duradouras na forma mais efectiva e sustentável possível. De forma a trazer a mudança positiva, inspiramos comunidades locais a amar o oceano e damos-lhe voz com o conhecimento necessário e ferramentas para que o protejam.

A film by Daniel Dugmore

Nemos Pequenos: Creating Waves in Mozambique

Nemos Pequenos is a community run program and now we're turning to you, our community, to help us grow. Jump in to save lives and support us give the next generation a chance to #CreateWaves. Crowdfunding Campaign: September 17 to October 31. chuffed.org/project/createwaves - Donate Now.

Music: Beachfront Celebration - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Footage Courtesy of: Nina Constable, Daniel van Duinkerken, Jo Hurford

Research experience with the Marine Megafauna Foundation

An informal compilation video showing my experience as a research assistant for the Marine Megafauna Foundation in Tofo, Mozambique from Oct. 2016 - April 2017.

All dives in this video were with Peri Peri Divers and the ending features MMF and Peri Peri staff as a thank you.

Music by Camel Power Club. Check out their page

MMF Strategic Manifesto 2017

The Marine Megafauna Foundation's vision is to live in a world where marine life and humans thrive together. Watch our Strategic Manifesto video to find out how to save #OurOceanOurFuture and email us on getinvolved@marinemegafauna.org to join our network of ocean ambassadors around the world (

#meettheteam: MMF Research Assistants

Want to know what a research assistant at MMF gets up to? Meet Imke who came out to help us conduct our research into whale shark and manta ray populations here in Tofo.

__________________________
Find out more about MMF:

marinemegafauna.org

Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:

Video by Jason Boswell
Music:

Marine Megafauna Foundation

Erin chats with Dr. SImon Pierce, co-founder of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, in Tofo, Mozambique!

The Sustainable Seas Ambassador Program

MMF's flagship conservation project in Mozambique, the Sustainable Seas Project, works towards protecting the Inhambane coastline and its marine life through collaboration with local communities. As part of the project, we organised a week of workshops for ambassadors representing the communities who fish in the waters of Tofo.

Over the week, the ambassadors learn about marine ecology and diversity, the richness of their coastline and the importance of protecting it. They also learnt about sustainable fishing methods that will allow fish populations to rejuvenate and remain fishable for years to come. Find out more about the project in our video or check out our blog:

marinemegafauna.org

Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:

Tofo World Oceans Day 2016

8th June 2016 was World Ocean's Day and MMF celebrated with a day of education and entertainment down on Tofo beach. 250 children and 70 volunteers came along to participate in beach activities and crafts, watch theatre from our Nemos Pequenos and learn more about our oceans and marine biodiversity.

Video by Finn White-Thomson:

Megafauna encounters with the Marine Megafauna Foundation

A short compilation of my last weeks in Mozambique April - May 2017. Encounter highlights of megafauna in the Northern Inhambane province. Thank you for the epic diving, Andrea, Janneman, and MMF.

Thank you Camel Power Club for letting me use the song Ourson. Check out their awesome music:

Marine Megafauna Foundation by Blue Futures

Discover Marine Megafauna Foundation in Tofo, Mozambique! Working to save the world’s ocean giants from extinction through specific approach about research, education and conservation programs.

Underwater Africa in Tofo, Mozambique

Underwater Africa is designed by manta ray biologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dr. Andrea Marshall (also known as Queen of the Mantas) and whale shark conservation biologist Dr. Simon Pierce, both Founders of the Marine Megafauna Foundation. Underwater Africa is a structured volunteer program aimed at involving citizen scientists in the world-class scientific research and marine conservation work being conducted in the vibrant
waters of southern Mozambique. Underwater Africa differs from other volunteering programsby being coordinated by a highly-qualified
scientist and working directly with world-leading experts in the fields of marine biology, ecology, oceanography, wildlife conservation, community outreach and education.

Maputo International School Visit

Students and staff from Maputo International School joined MMF in Tofo for a week of educational activities and talks. They took a dhow trip to the Inhambane estuary, an ocean safari to swim with whale sharks, and learnt from our scientists, researchers and staff about what MMF does and why marine conservation is so important!

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and we hope to have you back soon- marine biologists in the making!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find out more at marinemegafauna.com/

Or visit our social media channels:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:

Video by Finn White-Thomson: