After widespread outrage erupted over the controversial capture of a giant manta ray off Florida’s coast last year, state wildlife officials adopted stricter rules surrounding the display of protected marine animals, according to WUSF.
In its recent decision, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to prohibit the international export of threatened and endangered marine species for educational or exhibition use while adopting tougher standards for facilities applying for exhibition permits.
Thankfully, just a single U.S. facility — an aquarium in Georgia — appears to be eligible to receive a permit to exhibit manta rays.
“I do believe that we should not export the manta rays to internationally, other countries,” FWC Chairman Rodney Baretto said. “I believe that they should be here in America. Leave them alone.”
The move came after footage surfaced in July 2025 showing a giant manta ray being hoisted onto a fishing boat in a net so the animal could be shipped to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Disturbingly, authorities had granted a license authorizing the export.
Threatened manta rays are especially susceptible to population declines because they mature slowly and reproduce at exceptionally low rates, meaning the loss of even a single animal can seriously impact the species’ long-term recovery.
While Florida will still allow the capture and domestic exhibition of giant manta rays and other protected marine animals under certain circumstances, Lady Freethinker is grateful to see stronger protections put in place for these vulnerable animals.
