Dr Asia Haines is an Australian marine scientist with a particular passion for the conservation of threatened species, especially sharks and rays. Asia has been with Project Manta since early 2013. She was brought on board to assist with community engagement and to manage the east coast sighting database. Asia frequently represents Project Manta in the field and at events promoting the projects research. She accompanies the group on research trips to Lady Elliot Island three times a year and has conducted research at numerous aggregations sites for manta rays in both Australia and abroad. In 2014 Asia completed her Honours research with Project Manta, looking at manta ray feeding aggregations at Lady Elliot Island, and in 2022 completed her doctorate on the spatial ecology of manta rays. Her interests lie in improving our understanding of manta ray critical habitat selection and use, as well as examining the threats facing these animals, with the view to improving their conservation status. In recent years, Asia has also joined the IUCN Shark Specialist Group on their Important Shark and Ray Area project to assist with mapping critical habitats for these sharks and rays and conduct Red List assessments of these species globally.
Dr Asia Haines is an Australian marine scientist with a particular passion for the conservation of threatened species, especially sharks and rays. Asia has been with Project Manta since early 2013. She was brought on board to assist with community engagement and to manage the east coast sighting database. Asia frequently represents Project Manta in the field and at events promoting the projects research. She accompanies the group on research trips to Lady Elliot Island three times a year and has conducted research at numerous aggregations sites for manta rays in both Australia and abroad. In 2014 Asia completed her Honours research with Project Manta, looking at manta ray feeding aggregations at Lady Elliot Island, and in 2022 completed her doctorate on the spatial ecology of manta rays. Her interests lie in improving our understanding of manta ray critical habitat selection and use, as well as examining the threats facing these animals, with the view to improving their conservation status. In recent years, Asia has also joined the IUCN Shark Specialist Group on their Important Shark and Ray Area project to assist with mapping critical habitats for these sharks and rays and conduct Red List assessments of these species globally.