Wildlife

Manta Ray Welfare and the Gill Plate Trade

Manta and mobula rays are targeted for their gill plates used in traditional medicine, causing severe welfare harms and population declines.

Key Facts

Manta rays have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish
Gill plates are sold in Chinese medicine markets despite no proven efficacy
Mobula rays are often caught in gillnets, causing slow drowning
Manta rays are listed on CITES Appendix II restricting international trade
Many populations have declined by over 80% in recent decades

Welfare Considerations

Rays caught in gillnets suffocate slowly over hours, causing prolonged suffering. Those brought aboard vessels are often finned or have gill plates removed while still alive. Manta rays show complex social and cognitive behaviour. Their slow reproduction rate (one pup every two years) means populations cannot recover quickly from fishing pressure.

What You Can Do

Support Project MANTA and Manta Trust conservation programmes
Avoid products containing manta or mobula ray gill plates
Advocate for stronger CITES enforcement
Support marine protected areas in key manta ray habitats
Raise awareness that gill plates have no scientifically proven medicinal value