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A magnificent giant oceanic manta ray, sprawled out in the ocean, along with a female diver. Credit to Citrus Reef. This month’s article series will be discussing the gorgeous region of Phang Nga Bay. Phang Nga bay is a bay on the southern coast of Thailand, between the mainland & Phuket island. It is well known for its small islands dotted around the bay, limestone formations, underwater caves, & mangrove forests. Many divers flock to the area each year, to photograph the marine animals, swim the bay, & take in the surreal beauty around them. There are many areas for swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, & picnicking on the islands in the bay, & on the mainland coastline that borders the bay. It is common for tourists to travel between Phuket, & the Phang Nga, as the drive is approximately 1 hour & 54 minutes under optimal circumstances. Many tourists travelling the coast of Thailand will pass through the area for a day trip, to enjoy the beauty of the area. The entire bay is protected as a marine protected area as a part of Ao Phang Nga National Park. In addition to its beautiful landscape, the island is extremely biodiverse. The bay is filled with many beautiful ecosystems, ranging from mangrove forests to coral reefs. One of the popular creatures of the area, is known as the giant oceanic manta ray. The giant oceanic manta ray is the largest species of ray in the world, with the second largest being the Reef Manta Ray. This species is extremely large as its name implies, getting to the astonishing 30 feet long. Though they are large, they are not very temperamental animals, & are gentle giants of the ocean. They are passive animals, & don’t bother divers unless they are provoked. They have very long tails, & do not have poisonous barbs on them. Manta rays are not venomous, & cannot sting divers. The giant oceanic manta rays are a decent source of eco-tourism for the region, as many people wish to swim with them in a natural setting. In this article, we will be discussing the discovery & life of the giant oceanic manta ray, the mating tactics, techniques, habits, procedures, practices, & strategies of the giant oceanic manta ray, the distribution of the giant oceanic manta ray, & the scientific detailings of the giant oceanic manta ray. With that being said, let us delve into this gentle & fascinating behemoth of the ocean. A gorgeous photograph of a scuba diver & giant oceanic manta ray. Credit to the Garden & Gun Magazine. The Discovery & Life Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s were discovered in 1798, by German Naturalist & Taxonomist, Johann Julius Walbaum. As mentioned in the Introductory paragraph, Giant Ocean Manta Ray’s are able to reach up to 30 feet (9.144 meters). in length. Their maximum weight is approximately 3,600 pounds (1632.933 kilograms). Unfortunately not much is known about their longevity, however they are believed to live up to 45 years old. Manta Ray’s are far more intelligent then most fish species. An example of this is that they are able to create mental maps of their environments using visual cues, & use them to navigate. Additionally, they have some level of self awareness, as when put in front of a mirror, they don’t attack it, or respond to it as if it is another individual. Of all fish, their brains are some of the largest both physically, & relative to their bodies. Their brain’s are very developed as well, with the parts of their brain responsible for learning being especially developed. Giant oceanic manta rays have mild temperaments, & are generally extremely relaxed. They can be rather playful on occasion, & are generally curious creatures. They only become aggressive if provoked, & rarely cause serious issues for humans. Individuals are often territorial, & stay in the same area throughout their life. It is not clear whether or not they will attack other rays in defence of their territory. Individuals are known to congregate when feeding. Manta rays will have a cruising speed of 14.5 miles per hour (23.33549 kilometers per hour), however if faced with a threat, they can swim as fast as 22 miles per hour (23.33549 kilometers per hour). They swim by oscillating their fins up & down, which propels them forward. Depending on fast they wish to swim, they will oscillate their fins faster, or slower. This type of swimming is called undulatory swimming. They are incredibly graceful as well as agile with their swimming, being able to navigate the water column with ease. Similar to sharks, manta rays remain buoyant by storing extra oil in their livers, that weighs less than the water around them. It is currently unknown to science how manta rays sleep. They seem to be in constant motion, gliding through the ocean with a sophisticated ease. This is because in order to absorb oxygen from the water, water has to always be going over their gills. If they stop moving, they begin to suffocate, & eventually pass away. Giant oceanic manta rays are filter feeders, meaning that they feed on microorganisms such as plankton, copepods, decapod larvae, cephalopod larvae, fish larvae, shrimp, & occasionally small fish. They are not cannibalistic at any stage in their lives. They feed by opening their large mouth, & having organisms simply fall into their mouth. Although they are cathemeral, they will consume the most at nighttime. With such a large body weight, they must consume between 55 & 75 pounds of food per day to survive. Due to their massive size, very little is able to predate upon them. The few predators that are able to fight them fairly, are orcas, humans, & large sharks. Giant oceanic manta rays have large diamond shaped bodies with elongated wings, small eyes, wide mouths, ventrally placed gill slits, & are usually black or grey with a white belly. Unfortunately, they are classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. They were last accessed on November 12th, 2019, & have a population trend listed as decreasing. The Mating Tactics, Techniques, Habits, Procedures, Practices, & Strategies Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant oceanic manta rays breed via sexual reproduction, & have 2 distinct sexes. They are not naturally hermaphroditic. Their breeding system is polygamous. Of all the Elasmobranchs, they reproduce the slowest. Both male & female individuals will sexually mature at 8 to 9 years of age. There is a specific breeding season for Manta Ray’s, that being Late December to Mid-April. During breeding season, they will congregate in large gathering’s known as mating balls. Once a female has found a male, they will breed via internal fertilization, in which they will have a sexual union. After this the male will not have any role in the children’s, or the females life. Giant oceanic manta rays are ovoviviparous, meaning that they gestate children in eggs, however they gestate the children inside of the mother. The mother ray will gestate her child for 1 year, & give birth to a single pup. It is rare to have twins, as the children must be a certain size at birth to ensure survival, & there too little room in the mothers womb to comfortably allow for that. After giving birth, the mother will provide no further care to the baby, & the little ray will swim off into the ocean, ready to take on the world. She will wait at 1 to 4 years until she has another child. The Distribution Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray This species is found all around the world in both temperate & tropical regions between the 35° Parallel North & the 35° Parallel South. They currently inhabit the Indian, Atlantic, & Pacific Ocean. They are not migratory animals, & will stay in the same areas throughout their entire lives. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s inhabit areas as shallow as 10 feet (3.048 meters) & as deep as 3,280.84 feet (1,000.000032 meters). The Scientific Detailings Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s arose during the early Miocene, approximately 23 million years ago. Due to the fact that they have a cartilaginous skeleton instead of a calcified skeleton, it is very difficult for them to fossilize. There are only 3 sediment beds in the world with giant oceanic manta ray fossils, 1 of which is in South Carolina, & 2 of which are in North Carolina. Manta rays, similar to sharks, are known to have remoras attach to their backs. The 2 most common remora species that attach to the manta ray are Remora remora (Common  remora), & Echeneis naucrates (Slender sharksucker). Remoras are not the only species that enjoy hitchhiking with manta rays, as 11 other species of fish have been identified to swim along side the Manta Ray for long distances. Contrary to popular belief, giant oceanic manta rays do not have venomous stingers, & cannot hurt humans in that way. Individuals have very small reduced teeth, that are minimal in the digestive process. The only purpose of these teeth is to direct plankton & water into their mouth. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Chondrichthyes. This is a class of fish that are primarily composed of cartilage. This class can be compared to the class Osteichthyes, which is a class of fish who are primarily composed of bone. A few universal characteristics for any fish in the class Chondrichthyes is that they all are jawed vertebrates, they have paired fins, paired nares, scales, & a heart with chambers in a series. Their order is Myliobatiformes, which is an order of Batiods. This order comprises of all living rays. Their family is Mobulidae, an order of pelagic rays. The majority of species in this family spend the majority of their time in open ocean, instead of on the ocean floor. Their genus is Mobula, a new genus of ray. This genus contains the 2 largest species of Manta Ray on Earth. Their binomial name is Mobula birostris. A striking photograph of the giant oceanic manta ray in the sunlit sea. Credit to WiseOceans. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://oceana.org/marine-life/giant-manta-ray/ Citation No. 2: “Manta ray brainpower blow other fish out of the water”, Written by Amy Mcdermott, & Published on July 25th, 2017. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://oceana.org/blog/manta-ray-brainpower-blows-other-fish-out-water-10/ Citation No. 3: “Giant Manta Ray” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Save our Seas Foundation. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/species/giant-manta-ray Citation No. 4: “All About The Mysterious Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published on December 28th, 2020. Published by Manta Ray Advocates. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://mantarayadvocates.com/how-do-manta-rays-sleep/ Citation No. 5: “Oceanic Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Last Updated in 2022. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198921/214397182 Citation No. 6: “Manta Ray Behaviour”, Written by Hannah Brown, & Published on April 12th, 2023. Published by Sea Paradise. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.seaparadise.com/manta-ray-behavior/ Citation No. 7: “Manta Birostris”, Written by Nancy Passarelli & Andrew Piercy, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Florida Museum. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/manta-birostris/ Citation No. 8: “Oceanic Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Manta Trust. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.mantatrust.org/mobula-birostris Citation No. 9: “For manta rays, parasitic hitchhikers can be a pain in the rear, study finds”, Written by Elizabeth Claire Alberts, & Published in July, 2021. Published by Monga Bay. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://news.mongabay.com/2021/07/for-manta-rays-parasitic-hitchhikers-can-be-a-pain-in-the-rear-study-finds/amp/ Citation No. 10: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/giant-manta-ray Citation No. 11: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Save Our Seas. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/species/giant-manta-ray Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

An idyllic photograph of Isla de la Juventud. Credit to Cuba Travel. In this article, we will be discussing the history of the intriguing cuban island, Isla de la Juventud. The name of the island roughly translates into the Isle of Youth, & Rejuvenation. Isla de la Juventud is an island off the coast of Cuba, owned by the Cuban government. The island is approximately 213.88 nautical miles (396.10576 kilometers or 246.128708 miles) from the mainland North American Continent. It is the second largest island Cuban Island, only second to the main island. The island is approximately 2419.05 square kilometers (934 square miles or 597,760 acres). The island is south of Havana, & is the seventh-largest island in the West Indies as a whole. The official language of the island is Spanish, & tourism is high. Ecologically, the island is covered in Pine forests. The island is mild, & not as tropical as the rest of the Caribbean. The island is incredibly well known for its gorgeous beaches, never-ending nightlife, historic prisons, biodiversity, & its reputation as a pirate hideaway. The coastline of the island is extremely biodiverse, & filled with nature preserves & coral reefs. The coral reefs are very large, & are of the fringing kind. These coral reefs house many interesting creatures, one of the strangest being the Green Moray Eel. We covered this species on the 10th of this month, & the article can be found by typing “Green Moray Eel” into the search function of our website. The history of Isla de la Juventud is extremely intriguing, with a reputation as a pirates hideaway. It spans approximately 135 million years, beginning when Cuba began to form in the late Jurassic. The original indigenous inhabitants of the island are the Ciboney People, & unfortunately, the original culture has not been preserved very well. There is no official group for Ciboney descendants, & the culture is largely considered to be extinct. This was likely due to massive disease epidemics, & pressure from the Arawak & Spanish. This indigenous group is well known for their lack of a large-scale political structure, as well as a lack of governmental oversight. In this article we will be discussing the documented history of Isla de la Juventud, the indigenous aboriginals of Isla de la Juventud, the Most Destructive Natural & Man Caused disasters to affect Isla de la Juventud, & finally the Economic State of Isla de la Juventud. With that being said, let us delve into this Cuban Paradise. The Documented History Of Isla de la Juventud Before Colonization By The Spanish Historical Events From Approximately 135 Million Years Ago Isla de la Juventud as well as the rest of Cuba began forming approximately 135 million years ago, in the late Jurassic. The island as formed by the breakage of Pangea’s coastline, & how some of the coastline broke off then drifted into the area. Historical Events From Approximately 3000 B.C The Ciboney people began migrating to Cuba & the Surrounding islands approximately 5,000 years ago, from mainland America. They likely came via dug out kayak, instead of there being a land bridge. Archeologically, there are 2 major groups or cultures of the Ciboney people. The Ciboney of the northern area of the island, were known as people of the stone. This is due to the fact that their tools were largely made of stone. The Ciboney people of the south were known as the people of snails, as their tools were mainly made of the Strombus Gijas snail that is abundant in southern Cuba. All of their culture were hunters, gatherers, & fishermen. After Colonization By The Spanish Historical Events From The 1500’s After the arrival of Christopher Columbus, pirates began visiting the island to hide treasure & valuables near the coastlines & in the mountains. The first pirate to visit the island was the infamous Jean Francois La Roque, in 1543. The island was not used by the spaniards for much of anything for years. Many more pirates would visit over the years, including John Hawkins in 1565, & Francis Drake in 1586. Francis Drake visited the island many times prior to 1586, & is rumoured to have buried many valuables along the coast. Historical Events From The 1600’s The island was officially conquered in 1627 by Captain Hernando de Pedroso. Pirates would continue using the island in this century, with Pieter Hayn using the island for shelter in 1628. A year later in 1629, pirate Cornelius Cornelizoon Hol used the island as a station to attack Havana. He would repeat the action in 1638, in order to attack naval fleets being sent from South America. At least 6 more pirates would visit the island in the later half of the 1600’s. Historical Events From The 1700’s Pirates continued to regularly visit the island into the early 1700’s. The Spanish Earl of Ricia attempted to colonize the island, however he failed & had to return back to Spain. This was despite the island having an official owner, Domingo Duarte. The first official census was conducted in 1787, & 300 inhabitants were accounted for. In the same year, a small settlement was formed in modern day Nueva Gerona. Historical Events From The 1800’s Ex-soldiers began being deployed to the island from Saint Augustine, Florida, in 1831. This would help the locals ward off pirates who harassed the island. The first church on the island was constructed in 1847, & was named Nuestra señora de los Dolores. 2 elementary schools were also constructed, along with a hospital & a prison. This is when the island began to flourish, & truly began to have a community. Migration to the town exploded, & approximately 14 soldiers settled nearby the new Nueva Gerona. Barracks were built in 1850, & more soldiers came. The island was called the island of deportees by the Spanish Government, as they would deport those who desired political independence to the isle. Its name would soon change to the Isle of Pines, & would remain so until 1972. Cuba gained independence from the Spanish in 1898, & so did Isla de la Juventud. The next census occurred in 1899 & accounted for approximately 3,200 inhabitants. After Becoming A Part of Cuba Historical Events From The 1900’s Cuba officially became its own country in 1902, however Americans didn’t recognize that Isla de la Juventud belonged to Cuba until 1925. Approximately 500 American families moved to the region after the independence movement, as they saw many economic prospects on the isle. In 1913, there were approximately American 1,600 residents, along with the 3,200 Spanish residents. These residents increased the economic influence of the island by beginning farms, & fisheries services. In the Hay-Quesada treaty of 1925, the United States officially recognized that the island belonged to Cuba. Many U.S citizens would leave as a result of this, selling their land & stakes on the isle. In 1931, a prison named the Model Prison was constructed with the capacity for 6,000 inmates. The prison had horrific conditions, & 532 deaths were registered with in the first 4 years. A book was written by an ex-inmate who was imprisoned at the jail, called “Model Prison”. Many political prisoners were held at this island, & in World War 2, it was used for captured Japanese, Italian, & German soldiers. The prison was closed in 1967, & was legally declared a national monument in 1972. Modernly, the island has a population of 83,583 humans. The Indigenous Aboriginals Of Isla de la Juventud The Ciboney People Of Isla de la Juventud The Ciboney indigenous peoples lived all throughout the Caribbean. They lived throughout Cuba & as well as the greater & lesser Antilles. They were also known as the Siboney. Their language was unknown & it was a language was an isolate. They often stayed out of the way & lived on the coast lines. Their ambitions in relation to war & peace are unknown. They did not practice agriculture to our knowledge, instead opting to hunt & gather their supplies. Fishing was also popular for gathering food. They did not write anything down, so extremely little is known about them as the majority of them were gone before the Europeans arrived. Some of their primary sources of food were shellfish, turtles, & certain available island rodents. They also lacked in arts such as pottery & weaving. They may have originated from southern America in the areas of modern day Venezuela. If they were, they would have migrated to up to Cuba. Alternatively, they may have originated from the southern areas of modern day Florida. However, they did not have very apt maritime technologies. The Most Destructive Natural & Man Caused Disasters To Affect Isla De La Juventud Disaster No. 1: Hurricane Flora of 1963 Hurricane Flora was one of the deadliest Hurricanes to ever affect Cuba. It formed on September 26th, 1963 as a tropical storm in the Hurricane Convergence zone. At its peak, it reached Category 3 status. Its highest wind speed was approximately 149 miles per hour (239.792 kilometers per hour). Unfortunately, due to advisories not being sent out at the proper time, very few people had the opportunity to prepare for the hurricane. Hurricane Flora levelled At least 6,500 houses, & claimed the lives of at least 7,180 people. It cost approximately 528 million U.S.D to rebuild from, & forever scarred many lives. Disaster No. 2: 1932 Camagüey Hurricane The 1932 Camagüey hurricane is considered to be one of if not the most devastating hurricane to affect Cuba. The 1932 Camagüey Hurricane was a category 5 level hurricane that lasted from October 30th to November 14th of 1932. It caused a severe storm surge, & caused waves to reach 30 feet (9.144 meters) high. Additionally, it caused winds as quick as 175 miles per hour (281.635 kilometers per hour). It claimed the lives of approximately 3,103 people, & cost 40 million U.S.D in damages. The Economic State Of Isla Juventud The economic state of Isla de la Juventud is relatively stable. Their largest sources of revenue are tourism, fishing, citrus production, & grapefruit production. The Covid-19 Pandemic did heavily affect the economic development of the island, however it slowly has been recovering. Due to economic turnout not being as high as expected, the Cuban President began regularly visiting the province in 2024, to seek solutions for their development. He continues to actively tour various provinces to seek growth strategies & provide guidance to the labor forces on the island. A magnificent photograph of a natural coastal pool on the coast of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Credit to Claire Boobbyer. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “History”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://isladelajuventud-cuba.com/history.html Citation No. 2: “Isla de la Juventud Island, Cuba”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Trip Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.tripcuba.org/isla-de-la-juventud Citation No. 3: “1963- Hurricane Flora”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the University of Rhode Island. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1960s/flora/ Citation No. 4: “Hurricane Flora 1963”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by University of the West Indies. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.uwi.edu/ekacdm/node/159 Citation No. 5:  “Monthly Weather Review”, Written by Unknown, & Published in August 1932. Published by the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/mwreview/1932.pdf Citation No. 6: “Irma is first Cat 5 hurricane to make landfall in Cuba since killer storm of 1932”, Written by Mimi Whitefield, & Published on September 10th, 2017. Published by the Miami Herald. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article172355037.html Citation No. 7: “Cuban President Checks Economic Development Of The Isle Of Youth”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Radio Habana Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://en.granma.cu/cuba/2023-05-23/cuban-president-checks-economic-development-of-the-isle-of-youth Citation No. 8: “Diaz-Canel visits sites of Economic Interest in Isla de la Juventud”, Written by Ed Newman, & Published on February 12th, 2024. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/nacionales/346864-diaz-canel-visits-sites-of-economic-interest-in-isla-de-la-juventud Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A striking black & white portrait of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante. This article is part of our Marine Hall of Distinction collection. In this special collection, we discuss the marine biologists who have contributed most to marine biology & oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists & show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Dr. Isabel Pérez Farfante. Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante is a cuban marine zoologist who specializes in shrimp systematics. She is well known for her work with the Smithsonian as a systematic zoologist. In today’s article, we will delve into his formative years & education, his personal life & career, as well as his achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let’s plunge into the extraordinarly life of Dr. Isabel Peréz Farfante! Her Formative Years & Education Isabel Cristina Perèz Farfante was born on July 24th, 1916, in Havana, Cuba. She was born to Gervasio & Isabel Peréz (Farfante), both immigrants from Spain. As a young teenager, she was sent to live with relatives in Asturias, Spain, located on the Northern Coastline. The goal of this move was to give her access to premium high school education. Upon finishing her primary education, she began her studies at Universidad Central de Madrid. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse, as the country was torn apart by the Spanish Civil War. Isabel & her family were staunch Republicans, a group which was later crushed by the new government. As such, she had to leave Spain, & continued her education at La Universidad de Habana, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in 1938. She took a position at El Instituto de la Vibora, which roughly translates to The Snake Institute, in Havana. Soon after, she became an assistant professor of Biology at the Universidad de Habana. In 1941, at the age of 25, she met & married the esteemed geographer & economist, Gerardo Canet Alvarez. The pair both applied for Guggenheim Fellowships, with Isabel being awarded the fellowship from 1942 to 1943 in Organismal Biology & Ecology. Gerardo was awarded the fellowship soon after in 1945 in Geography & Environmental Studies. Her Guggenheim Fellowship, combined with a fellowship at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, as well as an Alexander Agassiz Fellowship in Oceanography & Ecology enabled her to enter the Radcliffe College of Harvard University for a Master’s Degree in Biology. She graduated in 1944, & subsequently pursued a doctorate, which she completed in 1948. A photograph of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante alongside her husband Gerardo Canet, & Cuban malacologist Carlos de la Torre Huerta. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the 1940’s. Credit to the Journal of Crustacean Biology. Her Personal Life & Career During the course of her doctoral studies, Dr. Perez Farfante visited the U.S. National Museum. During this visit, she bumped into famed herpetologist & naturalist Thomas Barbour, the director of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. Barbour had a long history with Harvard University with it being his Alma Mater, & had also previously done extensive research in Cuba. Barbour respected Dr. Perez Farfante greatly, & heard of difficulties she was having with equipment, & facilities for her doctoral project. Upon learning of this, he appointed her as the Associate Curator at the Museum of Comparative Zoology in 1946. Barbour would later go on to speak highly of her in his book “A Naturalist in Cuba”. While at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, she worked alongside Henry Bryant Bigelow, the first director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Upon finishing her doctorate she returned to La Universidad de Habana as a full professor, & continued until there until 1960. From 1952 to 1958, she retained the position of biologist in which we focused on shrimp. From 1959 to 1960, she became the Director of El Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras (The Fisheries Research Center) in Havana. As with many Cubans, Dr. Perez Farfante & her husband Gerardo initially welcomed the change in regime from Fulgencio Batista to Fidel Castro, hoping for change. However, this soon changed. The new government appointed a co-director of the institute who did not have any training or background in marine biology, with minimal knowledge of the subject. This new co-director interfered with her work greatly. Ernesto, often referred to as Che, Guevara personally asked her husband, Gerardo, to accompany him on a series of trips to establish economic ties with other countries. Gerardo refused as he didn’t want to spend much time away from their 2 young sons, Gerardo Jr. & Eduardo, or his beloved wife. As a result, both of them were placed on a secret “blacklist”, by the Cuban Government. This was revealed to them by a friend they had in the regime. With this ominous realization, the couple realized they could no longer stay & Cuba, & had to leave as soon as possible. They sent their sons a month ahead of them, & soon after went to the airport without reservations, purchased a ticket, & fled to the U.S. with a single suitcase. Her previous work with Harvard University allowed her to be appointed as the Associate of Invertebrate Zoology in 1961, a position she held until 1969. During her tenure as Associate, she conducted a study on commercial shrimp populations for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In 1966, she joined the National Marine Fisheries Service as a Systematic Zoologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service Systematic Laboratory at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. From 1986 to 1990 she continued her association with the National Marine Fisheries Service as Carcinologist Emeritus. In 1987, she became a Research Associate with the National Museum of Natural History. She remained a Research Associate until her retirement in 1997 during which she moved to Key Biscayne, Florida. Key Biscayne is a small town in South Florida known for its tropical beauty. For years afterwards, she worked with the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences on Key Biscayne on their various collections. She worked on a currently unpublished manuscript in collaboration with Maria Bello, & Brian Kensley on peneoid & sergestoid shrimp from a Bahamian deep oceanic trench called the “Tongue of the Ocean”. Unfortunately, on August 20th, 2009, Isabel Cristina Peréz Farfante passed away in her home on Key Biscayne surrounded by her husband Gerardo, her two sons Gerardo Jr. & Eduardo, & her beloved caretaker & housekeeper, Augustina Lugo. The contributions that Dr. Peréz Farfante made to the field will not be forgotten, & her legacy continues on to this day. A photograph of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante, her husband Gerardo Canet, & a Cuban fishing crew waiting before they sort through the contents of a fish trawl. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the late 1950’s. Credit to the Journal of Crustacean Biology. Her Awards, Accomplishments, & Achievements 1. She was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1942 for Organismal Biology & Ecology. 2. She was awarded a fellowship with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, & the Alexander Agassiz Fellowship in Oceanography & Ecology. 3. She was the first Cuban woman to earn a doctoral degree from an Ivy League Institution. 4. From 1962 to 1964 she was an Independent Scholar of Radcliffe College. 5. During the course of her research, she discovered massive shrimp populations in the Batabanó Gulf which allowed an economically important shrimp fishery to develop in the region. Directories / Credits Citation 1: “Wonderful Women Wednesday: Dr. Isabel C. Pérez Farfante”, Written by Emily Nierkrasz, & Published on September 1st, 2021. Published by the Smithsonian Institution. https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/wonderful-women-wednesday-dr-isabel-c-pérez-farfante Citation 2: “Isabel Cristina Perez Farfante”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Prabook. https://prabook.com/web/mobile/#!profile/1694762 Citation 3: “Isabel Pérez Farfante”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Guggenheim Fellowship. https://www.gf.org/fellows/isabel-perez-farfante/ Citation 4: “Isabel Pérez Farfante de Canet”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Journal of Crustacean Biology. https://userweb.ucs.louisiana.edu/~rtb6933/shrimp/Obituary_Isabel_Perez_Farfante.pdf Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

The Persaud Foundation is a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation We are a U.S 501(c)3 marine biological nonprofit organization, dedicated to protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. We currently run an electronic newsletter called The Persaud Catalog , publish online courses about marine biology, & conduct local conservation & education events in Southern California. The Three Pillars Of Our Organization Our Online Courses: We believe in promoting ocean literacy, supporting the ocean through education, and fostering people's oceanic curiosity. For this reason, in August 2024, we officially launched our first course. We currently have ten courses available, with two more under construction. Every course can be found here. For updates, please sign up for our mailing list! Our Electronic Newsletter: For those who wish to advance their marine biological knowledge, we publish an electronic marine biological newsletter approximately 5 times per month. We publish on a variety of topics within marine biology, from ecology to individual ocean creatures. We strive to have an article for everyone, & attract marine biological enthusiasts, professionals in the field, & all those with a curious mind. Each article can be found here. Our Public Conservation Events & Public Educational Events: We frequently conduct conservation events in California, such as Beach Cleanups. We cannot do this without people like you! To find out the closest beach cleanup, please consult our Events Calendar. We appreciate each & every volunteer that we get, & highly recommend getting involved if you want to make a difference. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com or consult our Eventbrite page. In addition to this, we currently conduct local oceanic education events, which can also be found on our calendar. Reach Out To Us! Name Email Subject Message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Thank you for submitting! We willl respond to your message as soon as possible. What exactly does your organization do & what is its mission? We are dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we operate a marine biological science communication newsletter “The Persaud Catalog”, published approximately 5 times per month, a marine biological online course program, & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, & education. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 10 online courses , with 2 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically discuss marine creatures, as people cannot understand the needs of these marine animals if they do not understand the marine animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 5 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. What is the Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey Program? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . Do you have an Oceanic Question or Question About our Nonprofit / Newsletter? Email Us & We’ll Get Back To You As Soon As Possible. Reach Out To Us

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, operates every program, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social media volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with us. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Onifade - Social Media Volunteer Onifade is one of our creative social media volunteers, with his work primarily focusing on developing captivating informational graphics to be featured on our social media pages. He is determined, industrious, & has been an asset to our organization. His favourite marine animal is the dolphin, with the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin featured above in its oceanic glory. Luna - Science Communication Volunteer Luna is one of our esteemed science communication volunteers who primarily assists in designing our online micro-courses. Currently, she is assisting us in designing a free micro-course on How to Sustainably Tide Pool. She is kind & extraordinarily productive. Her favourite marine creature is the Sea Turtle, with the Leatherback Sea Turtle being photographed above. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series & contributes actively to our Marine Biological Hall of Distinction article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Emily - Science Communication Volunteer Emily is one of our lovely Science Communication Volunteers who contributes to our newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is the primary writer for our new article series "Disasters at Sea". She also writes for another climate publication, GlacierHub, & is a graduate of UCSB, as well as an MA of Columbia University. Her favourite marine animal is the Mantis Shrimp, photographed above in its rainbow glory. John - Science Communication Volunteer John is one of our dedicated social media volunteers. He has been an asset to us throughout his time with the organization, & has been assisting with designing a new informational graphic series all about dolphins. In addition to volunteering with The Persaud Foundation, he volunteers with various organizations related to mental health & youth.

Adopt-A-Cleanup Program For individuals and corporations who wish to showcase their environmental values more meaningfully, we offer an Adopt-A-Cleanup program in which willing sponsors can sponsor one of our public cleanups. These sponsors can be individuals or companies with environmental values, looking to make a meaningful impact. Each sponsor in this program will receive; A certificate of gratitude from our organization. Your company's logo, or your name if you are an individual sponsor, on all the cleanup promotionals. A special thanks in any social media posts or articles about the cleanup. Please see this informational document for more information , & don't hesitate to email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com if you are interested in sponsoring a cleanup, or have any questions at all,