The Manta Trust has launched a new initiative aimed at getting businesses involved in manta ray conservation by offering their employees the chance to join ‘Volunteer Time Off’ (VTO) expeditions.
Volunteer Time Off is a policy in which companies can grant their employees a period of paid leave for volunteering activities. Some corporations allow staff to take a set amount of hours each week, others will grant up to an entire week’s volunteering leave.
A spokesperson for the Manta Trust says that the initiative will offer ‘forward-thinking companies an extraordinary opportunity to combine corporate social responsibility with life-changing team-building experiences’.
The expeditions will take the form of week-long trips in manta ray hotspots such as the Maldives; Raja Ampat and Komodo in Indonesia; Isla de la Plata in Ecuador; and Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago.
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Led by Manta Trust scientists, participants will engage in manta research by taking photographs for identification databases, surveying habitats and collecting other data relevant to manta ray conservation. The trips will also include beach cleanups, local community outreach and marine conservation workshops.
The Manta Trust says that its VTO expeditions represent a ‘win-win for businesses and the environment’ by boosting employee engagement and fostering team collaboration, while at the same time supporting conservation efforts and ‘demonstrating corporate social responsibility’.
‘Participating in manta ray research expeditions has not only allowed us to learn new skills and collect important data, but it has also strengthened our bonds as colleagues,’ said Hideyuki Komaki, an employee of software company Salesforce, which offers employees up to seven paid days of VTO, and which recently participated in a Manta Trust VTO expedition.
‘Stepping out of our office environment together for these expeditions has been a truly transformative experience,’ Komaki added.
Among the most charismatic marine creatures, Manta rays and mobular – or ‘devil’ – rays are increasingly under threat. Of the nine species listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, seven are listed as ‘Endangered’ and two as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction.
Any data collected to broaden scientific knowledge of the species will aid in their protection, and help policymakers to adapt protective measures to suit their local environments.
The Manta Trust says that its VTO expeditions cater to all levels of experience – including the provision of entry-level dive qualifications for those with no prior experience.
The trust has led ten expeditions to date, with more than 200 employees of various companies taking up the chance to use their leave to assist with manta research – the feedback from which has been ‘overwhelmingly positive.’
‘Swimming alongside these majestic creatures is not just an incredible experience—it’s a chance to make a real difference,’ says Dr Guy Stevens, Manta Trust’s CEO and Co-Founder.
‘By combining conservation with adventure, our expeditions inspire a deeper understanding of the ocean’s challenges and the power of collective action,’ said Stevens. ‘The Manta Trust’s VTO expeditions offer more than just an escape—they provide a purpose-driven journey that leaves a lasting impact on both participants and the planet.’
Learn more about the Manta Trust on its website at www.mantatrust.org, and drop the team an e-mail to learn more about the citizen science VTO experiences.
