First Assessment of Ray (Batoidea) Populations in Fort-de-France Bay (Martinique), Using Non-invasive Methods

Fort-de-France Bay in Martinique, French West Indies, is renowned for its exceptional natural beauty. Overflights of the bay have revealed rays (Batoidea) visible in the shallows. This is the first study of these species in Martinique. Three non-invasive methods were employed to identify the species using this area: aerial monitoring, underwater monitoring, and environmental DNA analysis. These methods identified three species of ray that frequent the bay. All three species are included on the I