Manta Ray Conservation and Welfare

Manta rays are captured for gill plates used in Chinese traditional medicine and face welfare harms from tourism, entanglement, and vessel strikes.

Key Facts

Both reef and oceanic manta ray species are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
A single manta ray can produce gill plates worth up to 500 dollars in traditional medicine markets
Manta rays have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish — suggesting significant cognitive capacity
Gill plate demand has declined following awareness campaigns but remains significant
Manta ray tourism generates over 100 million dollars annually — more than extractive harvest

Welfare Considerations

Manta ray welfare concerns span direct and indirect harms: gill plate harvest requires killing rays that may be cognitively sophisticated; entanglement in fishing gear causes injury and drowning; and tourism encounters that include touching or chasing cause measurable stress responses. Their large brains and complex social behaviours suggest welfare implications beyond simple nociception. The economic case for live manta ray ecotourism over extractive harvest provides a welfare-aligned incentive for conservation.

What You Can Do

Support Manta Trust and Manta Ray of Hope conservation campaigns
Choose responsible manta ray tourism that maintains observation distance
Avoid products containing manta ray gill plates
Advocate for strengthened CITES protection for manta and devil rays
Donate to manta ray research and conservation programmes