Manta and mobula rays are among the ocean's most charismatic megafauna. Targeted fishing for their gill plates and irresponsible wildlife tourism threaten their welfare and survival.
Manta and mobula ray welfare is threatened through multiple pathways. Targeted fishing for gill plates involves capture, surface-air exposure, and processing that is frequently conducted while the ray is still alive — causing prolonged suffering. Bycatch in large-scale fisheries results in drowning if not quickly released. Ghost gear entanglement traps rays that cannot reach the surface to breathe. Tourism impacts include boat strikes, diver overcrowding that disrupts feeding aggregations, and flash photography that may disorient rays. Welfare-conscious manta tourism uses established guidelines: minimum approach distances, no touching, limited diver numbers, and no use of flash photography. Manta ray sanctuaries established in several Pacific island nations protect these animals and create economic alternatives to fishing that support local communities.