Mohammed Abu Daya, a marine ecologist from Gaza, has a story of dedication and perseverance in the face of extremely challenging conditions. His area of specialization is the spinetail devil ray, also known as the giant devil ray, a critically endangered species that moves through the Mediterranean and beyond.
Challenges in Gaza
Before the war, Abu Daya taught at Palestinian universities and worked at Gaza’s National Research Center. He went to sea with fishermen, measuring spinetail devil rays brought ashore, monitoring markets, and gathering data on a species more often studied from the Western Mediterranean. His work helped place Gaza within the known range of the threatened migratory animal.
However, the pressures on Gaza’s sea were already severe. Israeli restrictions limited where fishermen could work. Fish stocks had declined. Poverty and fuel costs pushed people toward whatever could be caught close to shore. In 2013, when a large group of devil rays came near Gaza’s coast, fishermen landed several hundred of them.
War and Loss
Abu Daya did not treat the event only as a conservation failure. He tried to understand what had led to it, including the lack of local conservation systems and the strain on people living with few choices. Then came the current war. Abu Daya lost his home, his office, and regular access to the sea. Universities, libraries, fishing boats, landing sites, and much more were affected.
Despite everything, Abu Daya continues his work, tracking manta rays from a war zone, a testament to his dedication to conservation and the study of these incredible creatures.
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Conclusion
Mohammed Abu Daya’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and dedication to the cause of conservation, even in the face of extremely challenging conditions. His work on manta rays is crucial to understanding these creatures better and how to protect them.
Source / Reference: https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/the-gaza-scientist-still-tracking-manta-rays-from-a-war-zone/