Wild Manta Ray Conservation | Animal Welfare Hub

Manta rays face serious welfare threats from gill plate trade, bycatch, and vessel strikes — and their welfare is linked to ocean ecosystem health.

Key Facts

Two manta ray species exist — the reef manta and the oceanic manta — both listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Manta rays are among the largest fish and among the most intelligent, showing curiosity toward divers and possible self-awareness
Gill plate drying for traditional medicine markets drives targeted hunting of mantas in some regions
Bycatch in purse seine and gillnet fisheries kills significant numbers of mantas annually
Manta ray tourism generates substantial revenue for coastal communities, creating economic incentives for live protection
Vessel strikes at snorkeling and diving aggregation sites are a documented mortality source
Manta rays reproduce extremely slowly — single pups every 2-5 years — making populations highly vulnerable to hunting pressure

Welfare Considerations

Manta rays that are caught in fishing gear experience prolonged drowning — unable to pass water over their gills when immobilized in nets, they suffocate slowly. Gill plate hunting involves landing live animals and removing gill rakers before or after death. These are acute suffering events in animals whose cognitive complexity suggests a capacity for meaningful experience. The good news is that live manta rays are dramatically more economically valuable than dead ones in tourism-dependent coastal economies, and this economic alignment has driven effective protection in many regions. Expanding this model and closing loopholes in protective legislation remains the primary conservation and welfare challenge.

What You Can Do

Support manta ray conservation through donations to the Manta Trust and regional manta research programs
When diving or snorkeling in manta aggregation sites, follow responsible wildlife interaction guidelines
Avoid purchasing gill plate products or traditional medicines containing manta ray derivatives
Advocate for expanded marine protected areas encompassing manta ray aggregation and cleaning station sites
Support fishing gear modifications that reduce manta bycatch in commercial fisheries