More than 100 eagle rays gathered around a tuna farm off Malta; scientists say it is the largest aggregation of the species ever recorded

More than 100 ‘eagle rays’ were recorded gathering around a tuna ranch off the north-eastern coast of Malta. Scientists believe it is the largest aggregation of the species ever recorded. The remarkable sighting was captured during routine underwater monitoring in October 2024, when a remotely operated vehicle surveyed the seabed beneath several tuna cages. Researchers estimated that between 100-150 rays were present, moving through the water and across the seabed where leftover food fish had accumulated. The study, published in the journal ‘Marine Biodiversity,’ suggests that this gathering was largely driven by the opportunity to feed on this readily available food. Common eagle ray aggregations are rarely documented, making the discovery particularly significant.