Florida wildlife regulators voted Wednesday to permit the capture of giant manta rays from state waters, rejecting calls for a complete ban but imposing new constraints on where and how the threatened species can be taken.
The decision by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came after a disturbing viral video last summer showed men roughly hauling an upside-down ray into an unmarked boat in Panama City Beach. The captured ray was destined for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, one of three manta rays taken from Florida for international aquariums in recent years.
A bipartisan group of 18 Florida politicians, including Republican congressman Brian Mast and Democratic state senator Jason Pizzo, had pushed for an outright ban before the vote. In a letter to FWC Chair Rodney Barreto, they argued that allowing captures prioritized the entertainment industry over protecting a threatened marine animal.
Under the new rule, manta rays can only be captured with direct FWC approval and cannot be exported overseas. Any U.S. facility seeking to display one must demonstrate an educational purpose. The rule takes effect July 1.
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is currently the only facility in the country equipped to house the species, which can span up to 26 feet and weigh 5,300 pounds.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, which reviewed FWC licensing data, found that the commission issued 25 manta ray capture licenses since 2019, with 75 percent intended for international aquariums. One of the rays captured for export died shortly after being removed from the water.
State representative Lindsay Cross, who sponsored legislation for a complete ban that stalled in committee, called the FWC's action a step forward but acknowledged it fell short of what advocates wanted. She said the rule's requirement for commission approval on future captures and public comment periods would improve transparency.
Alicia Prygoski, the Animal Legal Defense Fund's strategic legislative affairs manager, praised the international export prohibition but expressed frustration that commissioners removed a proposed cap limiting captures to one ray every two years. She noted, however, that the practical impact may be minimal since only one aquarium can currently house the animals.
FWC Chair Barreto defended the decision in a statement, saying the commission balanced concerns from politicians and animal advocates against the educational value of public aquariums in building support for conservation. He said the new rule ensures proper oversight of marine species collection while allowing responsible exhibition in the United States.
Author James Rodriguez: "The FWC's half-measure feels like appeasement rather than genuine protection for an already threatened species, but at least that viral video of brutal handling finally forced their hand."
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