Manta ray tourism at aggregation sites raises welfare concerns about disturbance to feeding and cleaning behaviour, with guidelines for responsible interaction.
Manta ray welfare at tourism sites depends on whether diver behaviour disrupts the natural behaviours that draw mantas to the site. Rays that cannot feed or clean effectively due to disturbance gain less benefit from aggregation site visits, potentially affecting body condition. Responsible watching protocols that maintain appropriate distance and avoid disturbance allow welfare-neutral ecotourism.