Manta ray ecotourism generates conservation revenue but raises welfare questions about the impacts of diver interactions and repeated disturbance on individual rays.
Manta ray ecotourism presents a conservation-welfare trade-off that requires careful management. Tourism revenue motivates protection of manta ray populations and their habitats, contributing to conservation. However, poorly regulated ecotourism can displace mantas from cleaning stations, disrupt natural behaviour, and cause chronic stress through repeated diver approaches. Individual mantas in high-pressure tourism sites may learn to avoid areas they would otherwise use for cleaning, foraging, or social interactions. Evidence-based interaction guidelines including minimum approach distances, no-touch rules, and diver number limits at aggregation sites can significantly reduce welfare impacts while maintaining the conservation value of ecotourism. The cognitive sophistication suggested by manta ray research strengthens the case for taking their individual welfare seriously.