MantaWatch

What MantaWatch does

MantaWatch is a UK-registered non-profit marine conservation organization, founded in 2010 and operationally headquartered in Indonesia, that focuses on threatened manta ray populations and the fisheries and tourism systems that interact with them. Its primary delivery vehicle is MantaWatch Online, described as the world's first social web application dedicated to open, transparent, and participative manta ray research and conservation, which enables registered citizen scientists (MantaWatchers) to submit manta encounter reports and ID photographs and to view aggregated statistics through features such as MantaTrax dive site mapping and the Global Manta Map. The organization runs the MantaWatch Internship Program (MIP), a multi-week professional development program with Indonesia and International tracks hosted in Komodo National Park, which trains marine conservation students in scientific diving, data management, stakeholder collaboration, and science communication, and produces alumni who continue into the Indonesian conservation workforce.

Complementing the platform and internship pipeline, MantaWatch operates two field programs in Indonesia: a Sustainable Tourism program working with dive operators and Dive Operators Community Komodo (DOCK) on manta briefings, citizen science data collection, and a Manta Code of Conduct; and a Sustainable Fisheries program based in Muncar (Banyuwangi, East Java) that runs bycatch mitigation technology pilot trials (for example, swordfish lights) and delivers education and outreach to small-scale fishing communities and fishery high school students. The MantaWatch team is small (1–10 employees) and is supplemented by alumni, interns, and volunteers, with field operations anchored in Labuan Bajo (West Manggarai/Komodo) and Muncar.

MantaWatch is funded almost entirely through donations and grants from a concentrated set of conservation foundations and agencies (including National Geographic Society, USAID, Rufford Foundation, Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Guy's Trust), augmented by in-kind equipment and professional contributions and supplemented by individual donations and a merchandise shop. Membership, encounter reporting, and the Manta Code of Conduct are offered free of charge. The organization is a non-commercial entity whose principal commercial partners are dive operators (Dive Komodo, iDive Komodo) acting as channel partners for sustainable tourism and citizen science distribution, and whose institutional relationships include Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Conservation International, WWF Indonesia, Misool Foundation, Reef Check Indonesia, and PUSRIKAN.

Name

MantaWatch

Legal name

MantaWatch

Website

https://mantawatch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MantaWatch is a UK-registered non-profit, founded in 2010, that conserves threatened manta rays through a citizen science web platform (MantaWatch Online), the MantaWatch Internship Program (MIP), and field programs in Indonesia covering sustainable tourism and sustainable fisheries. It serves divers, fishing communities, dive operators, marine conservation students, and Indonesian government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips) (THAAAIAB), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Manta ray conservation
• Marine citizen science
• Mobulid bycatch reduction
• Sustainable fisheries programs
• Marine conservation training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations support conservation and education programs, particularly the annual MantaWatch Internship Program for young conservationists in Indonesia.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from conservation foundations and organizations including Guy’s Trust, National Geographic Society, Conservation Leadership Programme, Rufford Foundation, USAID, and others.
3. Equipment and Expertise Contributions: In-kind contributions of equipment (laptops, cameras, SCUBA gear) and professional expertise (training, mentorship, graphic design) from supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MantaWatch conserves threatened manta rays through citizen-science data collection, a professional marine conservation internship program, and community-based sustainable fisheries and tourism programs in Indonesia. Its primary deliverable is MantaWatch Online, a social web application that enables divers worldwide to report manta encounters and contribute to open manta ray research.

Product overview

MantaWatch is a marine conservation organization offering a portfolio of products and programs centered on manta ray research and conservation. The core product is MantaWatch Online, a social web application that enables citizen scientists to report manta encounters and contribute to open research. The MantaWatch Internship Program provides professional training for marine conservationists in developing countries, while Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Fisheries programs address conservation through industry engagement and bycatch reduction technologies. Additional offerings include environmental education programs and manta encounter reporting tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MantaWatch Online

Quantifiable outcome

• MIP Interns contributed research supporting Indonesia's world’s largest manta ray sanctuary establishment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Guy's TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuy's Trust is a key partner supporting the MantaWatch Internship Programme. They provide funding and trustees visit program sites. MIP was developed in partnership with Guy's Trust and awards Guy Joseph MantaWatch Awards (fully funded scholarships) to exceptional students selected for the program.
• Conservation Leadership ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Future Conservationist Awards to MIP alumni for mobula bycatch reduction projects. Provides project funding, training and mentoring for early career conservationists.
• Reef Check IndonesiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine conservation organization collaborating on reef and manta research in Indonesia.
• Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry with which MantaWatch collaborates on shark and ray conservation NPOA-Sharks implementation, manta sanctuary initiatives, and national workshops.
• PNCI (People-Nature Consulting)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting organization supporting MantaWatch conservation initiatives.
• Dive Operators Community Komodo (DOCK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative agreement signed for sustainable tourism development in and around Komodo National Park. Partnership focuses on manta briefings, citizen science data collection, and responsible diving practices.
• Conservation InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal conservation organization collaborating on Mobulidae Habitat Model Workshop to identify and protect key mobulid habitats in Indonesia.
• WWF IndonesiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF participated in Mobulidae Habitat Model Workshop and Shark/Manta Ray Symposium for national conservation planning.
• Misool FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization collaborating on mobulid ray habitat identification and protection initiatives.
• Indonesia Fisheries Research Centre (PUSRIKAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Mobulidae Habitat Model Workshop in collaboration with Conservation International, Misool Foundation, and WWF to develop national map of mobulid research and monitoring activities.
• iDive KomodosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDive operator in Komodo welcoming MantaWatch interns to join boats and give manta briefings to guests. Partnership for sustainable tourism and conservation awareness.
• Dive KomodosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDive operator collaborating on emergency oxygen provider training and manta safari operations with MIP interns.
• Indonesia Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIP alumni worked with TERANGI to create ecotourism training modules for Lombok.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Large global conservation NGO that has co-hosted MantaWatch's Mobulidae Habitat Model Workshop. Comparable as marine conservation funder/convener, though at vastly larger scale and broader mandate.
• WWF Indonesia: Local arm of a global conservation NGO active in Indonesia's marine policy and fisheries. Comparable as a co-participant in MantaWatch's national shark/ray symposiums and habitat-model workshops.
• Marine Stewardship Council: Global non-profit setting standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. Comparable on the sustainable-fisheries intervention side of MantaWatch's Muncar bycatch-reduction work, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Reef Check Foundation: Volunteer/citizen-science network surveying coral reef health worldwide, including in Indonesia. Comparable as a marine citizen-science platform with global volunteer submissions and Indonesia operations.
• Project AWARE Foundation: Dive-community-driven marine conservation non-profit that mobilizes scuba divers for citizen science, policy advocacy, and marine debris action. Comparable via dive-operator partnership model and citizen-science volunteer base.
• The Manta Trust: UK/Indonesia-based non-profit dedicated exclusively to manta and mobulid ray research and conservation. Most direct peer given overlapping species focus, citizen-science data collection, and shared Indonesia field footprint.
• Wild Me: Operates Wildbook, an open-source citizen-science platform using photo-identification for wildlife (including manta rays and other elasmobranchs). Closely comparable on the technology/citizen-science dimension of MantaWatch Online.

Emerging players

• Reef-World Foundation: Dive-operator-focused marine conservation non-profit delivering Green Fins sustainable tourism standards. Comparable via dive-operator partnership channel for sustainable marine wildlife tourism.
• Misool Foundation: Indonesia-based marine conservation non-profit running a private marine reserve and reef/manta habitat protection in Raja Ampat. Comparable via regional marine conservation scope, resort-based funding model, and manta habitat focus.

Peers

• Save Our Seas Foundation: Marine conservation foundation funding shark, ray, and ocean research and education projects. Comparable via grants to manta/mobulid research and similar small-grantee structure, though broader in species scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mantawatch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/mantawatch
• Facebookfacebook.com/MantaWatch
• Instagraminstagram.com/mantawatch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mantawatch-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MantaWatch