Marine Wildlife

Manta Ray and Mobula Ray Welfare and Conservation

Manta and mobula rays are targeted by fisheries for their gill plates, which are used in traditional medicine, driving severe population declines and individual welfare harm.

Key Facts

Manta ray gill plates are sold in Chinese medicine markets despite no proven therapeutic benefit
Both giant and reef manta rays are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
Manta rays have extremely low reproductive rates - females produce only one pup every 2-5 years
Live manta ray tourism generates far greater economic value per animal than gill plate trade
CITES Appendix II listings now require trade permits for manta and mobula rays
Several coastal nations have established manta ray sanctuaries banning targeted fishing

Welfare Considerations

Manta and mobula rays caught in targeted fisheries or as bycatch are often brought aboard vessels while alive, causing extreme stress and physical injury. Their cartilaginous bodies sustain severe damage from gaffing and hauling. Death by asphyxiation occurs over minutes to hours. The scale of individual suffering is multiplied by the negligible conservation value of the gill plate trade against the enormous reproductive value of each individual to its population.

What You Can Do

Avoid purchasing traditional medicine products containing manta ray gill plates
Support campaigns for manta ray sanctuaries in key habitat countries
Back organisations monitoring and reporting illegal manta ray trade
Choose dive operators that practice responsible wildlife tourism with manta rays
Advocate for strengthened CITES enforcement for manta and mobula ray trade