Manta Researcher Julie Hartup and Videographer Chase Weir will share their findings and art in Yap during Manta Mania
(photo courtesy of Liquid Soul Ind.)
Guam – The world’s leading researchers in Manta Rays will be in Yap next week to discuss their findings. One of those researchers is from Guam and she’ll be sharing what she’s learned about Guam’s Manta Ray population.
Julie Hartup, a project leader for the Manta Trust, will be joined by her son who shares images of the creature she’s grown to love through his work as an underwater videographer. Chase Weir formed his own business Liquid Soul Ind. and one of his videos showcasing Mantas has been featured on gopro.com
“It’s nice having a Manta researcher at your fingertips,” Weir said of how the two work together.
Hartup choose Mantas as her research focus for her Masters Degree at the University of Guam because she knew she’d never get bored of the animal.
Since there aren’t many scientists studying Mantas Hartup is making a lot of new discoveries about this majestic fish. She says they’re more social than we knew, and are smart too.
“Here in Guam we actually found this new behavior where they’re coming in and targeting these fish spawning aggregations to feed off the fish spawn and they come in as groups so I see them in higher numbers than just one or two,” Hartup told PNC.
Manta Mania will be held at the Manta Bay Resort in Yap from January 31st – February 7th.
