Manta rays face dual threats from targeted fishing for their gill rakers used in traditional medicine and from poorly managed wildlife tourism that causes stress and behavioral disruption.
Manta ray welfare spans two domains: the acute suffering of targeted fishing and the chronic stress of poorly managed tourism. Fishing specifically targets mantas at known aggregation sites, making protection of these locations critical. Tourism-based disturbance, while less acute, can disrupt feeding, mating, and cleaning station behavior that mantas depend on. The cognitive sophistication of mantas - their apparent recognition of individuals and curious approach behavior toward humans - suggests their welfare experience is more complex than that of less cognitively developed fish. Responsible tourism that maintains appropriate distances protects both welfare and the industry's long-term viability.