Read more about the effect of plastic pollution on manta rays below: Unfortunately, manta rays are particularly vulnerable because not only do they directly ingest small plastic particles on a daily basis – their food source (plankton) has also been found to contain an unseen level of microplastics.

Plastic contamination is becoming an ever-growing hazard to aquatic creatures around the globe. In addition, some countries still allow the hunting of mantas for their gill plates, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Manta ray populations in the Indo-Pacific have suffered severely due to overfishing, resulting in a sharp decline. Manta rays are often caught as bycatch in fisheries, meaning they get unintentionally entangled in fishing nets or hooked on longlines. Fishing (both targeting manta rays – or fishing aimed at other species, but resulting in hurting or killing manta rays, which is called “bycatch”), unregulated tourism activities, and ocean pollution are the main reasons why both species of manta rays worldwide are currently threatened with extinction.

In reality, humans are the main threat to the existence of manta rays as a species. Since manta rays are large animals, there are few other ocean creatures that could possibly harm them. Let this sink in.īut why manta rays? Why is it so important to protect them? What would happen if they disappeared?Īnd why aren’t we just as passionate about protecting whales or dolphins, just to name a few? What makes us so determined to protect manta rays? The Threats to Manta Rays Manta rays are gentle giants and deeply awe-inspiring animals, who have a transformational and long-lasting effect on anyone who gets to swim with them.īoth reef mantas and giant manta rays are threatened species and without action, manta rays may soon be gone forever.

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