Abstract

The spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List in 2021, is facing alarming population declines, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. This coastal specie plays a crucial role in the food web as a key species in the marine ecosystem. However, its biological and ecological specificities make it highly vulnerable to coastal habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures, including fisheries, tourism, and maritime traffic. In the French West Indies (FWI), a lack of knowledge on the species hinders the implementation of conservation measures adapted to each island. In this context, the INA Scuba participatory science program engaged local diving clubs in the FWI to collect data on the spotted eagle ray. Thanks to the commitment of this citizen science initiative, unprecedented information on the state of local populations has been collected over more than 10,000 dives between 2019 and 2023. Findings reveal significant disparities in encounter rates across the region: frequent sightings in Saint-Barthélemy (32%), occasional in Saint-Martin (16%), and rare in Guadeloupe (3%) and Martinique (1%). This study explores the factors that may contribute to these differences, including the dive site location, seasonal variations, lunar phase, and gillnet occurrence, leading to valuable insights for developing conservation strategies to safeguard the spotted eagle ray in the FWI. The program emphasize the important role of citizen science in addressing data deficiencies for vulnerable marine species.