Manta rays face welfare threats from targeted fishing for gill rakers, bycatch entanglement, boat strikes, and poorly managed tourism interactions that compromise both individual welfare and population viability.
The intelligence and cognitive complexity of manta rays, suggested by their large relative brain size and demonstrated in problem-solving and mirror self-recognition studies, makes their welfare particularly morally significant. Individual manta rays entangled in ghost gear suffer prolonged physical stress and injury before death or rescue. Tourism interactions conducted without appropriate distance and conduct requirements cause behavioral disturbance and chronic stress to individual animals that may rely on specific feeding and cleaning stations throughout their lives. Both conservation and welfare goals are advanced by ending gill raker trade and establishing meaningful tourism standards.