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Florida to Revisit Permits for Capturing Endangered Manta Rays
6 Sep
Summary
- Authorities to review policies allowing capture of endangered species
- Manta ray captured off Florida coast for Middle East aquarium
- Viral video sparks outrage over treatment of protected marine life
In a move to address public concerns, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced plans to revisit its policies regarding the issuance of permits that allow companies to capture endangered marine creatures for aquariums. This decision follows the recent controversy surrounding the netting and removal of a giant manta ray off the coast of Florida.
A viral video released on July 12th, 2025 showed a boat crew capturing a massive manta ray and hauling it onto their vessel. The incident sparked outrage among the local community, with a dolphin tour operator who witnessed the event confronting the crew and questioning their actions. It was later confirmed that the crew were contractors working for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and the company holding the permit was Dynasty Marine Associates, based in Florida.
The giant manta ray, the world's largest ray with a wingspan up to 26 feet, is federally listed as an endangered species. In response to the public outcry, a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers signed a letter urging the FWC to revoke the permit that allowed the manta ray to be captured and to suspend any future "marine special activity licenses" that enable the limited capture of endangered species.
The FWC has now acknowledged the concerns raised by the public and lawmakers, with the agency's chair, Rodney Barreto, confirming that the review of these policies will occur in 2026. Additionally, the FWC has stated that it has stopped issuing permits that allow the capture of sharks and manta rays listed under the Endangered Species Act since August 19th, 2025.
