A young giant manta ray, captured off the Florida coast for an overseas aquarium, died in captivity before it ever left the state. The animal—described as healthy just weeks earlier—declined rapidly in a holding tank and had to be euthanized. It was supposed to be shipped 7,800 miles to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Instead, it died far from the open ocean where it belonged.

This wasn’t the first time. Florida-based Dynasty Marine Associates has captured multiple wild manta rays under special state licenses for export. And it could happen again—because Florida is the only U.S. state that still allows the capture of wild manta rays, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

This is not conservation. It is cruelty disguised as education.

Manta rays are intelligent, migratory animals that can travel hundreds of miles in the wild. Tearing them from their habitat for overseas display does not serve the public—it serves profit. Aquariums often claim to promote awareness, but these captures put the lives of threatened animals at unnecessary risk. The recent death proves that.

Floridians take pride in our marine ecosystems. Allowing rare wildlife to be shipped out for commercial display undermines everything we say we stand for as a coastal state.

We are calling on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Governor Ron DeSantis to immediately end the issuance of permits that allow manta rays to be captured and exported for entertainment and exploitation.

Sign now to demand that Florida's wild manta rays stay in the ocean—where they belong.