The Manta Trust Fund

With the MS Hebridean Sky traveling through the Maldives in 2025, for the first time since 2016, NCCT was excited to come across a great local project in the Maldives called Manta Trust and have committed to fundraise for the project.

Most marine conservation efforts in the Maldives are concentrated around luxury resorts, where vital funding allows NGOs to conduct research. However, this leaves the remote ecosystems that make up most of the Maldives largely unstudied and local communities underrepresented in conservation efforts. The RahVeshi Programme, created by the Manta Trust and the Maldives Manta Conservation Programme, aims to change this by supporting local communities to establish and lead conservation projects.

RahVeshi focuses on training young Maldivians in manta and devil ray research. Currently, we have three projects in remote atolls—Makunudhoo, Fuvahmulah, and Addu—where local interns learn key skills like photo identification, drone and snorkel surveys, and data analysis. These skills not only contribute to marine conservation but open the door to economic opportunities and support young people to be leaders in sustainability.

Your contribution to the Manta Trust Fund will support the training of these young Maldivians, helping build the next generation of ocean guardians. With your support, these trainees can take up leadership roles in conservation, pursue careers in the field, or promote ecotourism initiatives—ensuring that those most impacted by conservation are the ones driving it.

Together, we can ensure that the people closest to these marine ecosystems are at the forefront of protecting these resources. Your donation will create lasting positive change for manta and devil rays, while also securing a thriving future for coastal communities in the Maldives.

Be a part of this transformation—donate today and help the younger generations in the Maldives to protect their unique marine environment.