Wild Manta Ray Welfare and Gill Raker Trade

Manta rays are targeted for their gill rakers in an unscientific traditional medicine trade that has driven severe population declines and causes significant individual suffering.

Key Facts

Two manta ray species exist — oceanic and reef manta — both listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Gill rakers are cartilaginous filters that manta rays use to strain plankton — they have no proven medicinal value
China is the primary market for gill rakers, sold under the name peng yu sai in traditional medicine markets
Manta rays reproduce very slowly, giving birth to one pup every 2-5 years, making populations extremely vulnerable to hunting pressure
Many mantas are killed by being finned — a process where fins are removed and the living animal discarded at sea
Manta rays are listed on CITES Appendix II, regulating international trade but not eliminating it in range countries
Manta ray tourism generates an estimated 140 million USD annually — vastly more than gill raker trade value per animal

Welfare Considerations

The killing of manta rays for their gill rakers — a product with no scientific medical validity — causes suffering and death for an animal capable of complex social behaviors and with documented long-term memory. Finning, where living animals are discarded after gill raker removal, is particularly distressing. The economic comparison between tourism and gill raker trade strongly favors conservation: living manta rays are worth many times more to coastal economies than dead ones. Demand reduction in consumer markets combined with fishing prohibition in range countries are the most effective interventions.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or consume products containing manta ray gill rakers or other manta ray parts
Support demand reduction campaigns operating in traditional medicine markets for manta products
Donate to organizations monitoring manta ray populations and advocating for protective legislation in range countries
Choose manta ray diving and snorkeling operators who maintain respectful distances and do not touch animals
Advocate for expansion of marine protected areas covering key manta ray aggregation and cleaning station sites