Outrage grows after threatened manta ray is captured and exported from Florida

A video has surfaced showing anglers capturing a threatened manta ray off Panama City before exporting it overseas for display. The footage, recorded by an employee of Water Planet Dolphin Swim Tours, revealed the animal was not released as initially believed. The incident has sparked calls for stricter protections under a proposed new law in Florida.

The capture took place under current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules, which permit such actions with a marine special activity licence for educational or exhibition purposes. However, public records from NOAA Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service show no manta rays were legally captured or exported from Florida between 2021 and 2025, as the species is protected under international and US endangered species laws.

The video's release prompted frustration from Denis Richard, founder of Water Planet, who described the situation as helpless. He had assumed the manta ray would be returned to the water, only to later discover its export.

In response, state lawmakers are advancing the Manta Protection Act, which would ban the capture and transport of threatened marine species for entertainment. The bill, already discussed in a House subcommittee and introduced in the Senate, would still allow exceptions for rescue, rehabilitation, and scientific research. If approved, the law would take effect on 1 July.

The proposed legislation aims to close a legal loophole that was never meant to permit the capture of vulnerable species for public display. Supporters argue the change will reinforce Florida's role in protecting threatened marine life. The bill's outcome will determine whether such captures remain possible in the future.