Oceanic and reef manta rays are Vulnerable to extinction due to targeted fishing for gill plates used in traditional medicine. Their welfare across fishing and trade interactions is severe and largely unaddressed.
Manta ray fishing for gill plates causes severe welfare harms. Capture in nets causes panic, exhaustion, and physical injury in large, powerful animals. Gill plates are often removed from live animals before the body is discarded. Given evidence of manta ray cognitive sophistication — including apparent self-recognition — their capacity for distress may be significant. The trade is driven by demand for gill plates in traditional medicine despite no evidence of efficacy. Alternatives to manta fishing exist: manta ecotourism generates substantially greater economic value per animal than fishing, providing economic incentives for protection. Strengthening CITES appendix listings, closing trade loopholes, and demand reduction campaigns in key markets are the most impactful interventions.