Stingrays face welfare threats from recreational fishing, captive display, and tourism interactions. Emerging evidence of their sensory and cognitive capabilities raises important welfare questions.
Stingray welfare is an emerging area with significant gaps in scientific knowledge. Evidence from related elasmobranch species suggests that stingrays have nociceptive systems and stress responses comparable to other fish, suggesting capacity for suffering. Touch tank interactions in aquariums repeatedly disturb stingrays and may cause chronic stress — smooth dry hands, rough handling, and removal from water all pose acute welfare risks. At high-volume tourist provisioning sites, the combination of crowding, repeated handling, and unnatural feeding creates a complex welfare picture. A precautionary approach recommends minimising direct contact and avoiding provisioning that disrupts natural behaviour.