Florida lawmakers stood up to express outrage after a manta ray was captured in Panama Beach. A video showed the animal being taken from the water, and the manta ray was confirmed later to have passed away in captivity after being euthanized. Manta rays are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and rarely survive in captivity.
“It’s just so hard to see an animal go through that. There’s a big difference between taking a living species to help with its restoration and something that’s going to benefit a for-profit corporation.” said state Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allowed the animal to be taken legally under a Marine Special Activity License. The SAL allows researchers or aquariums to collect protected marine species. The license was held by Dynasty Marine Associates, a Florida company. It was enroute to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
Biologists and conservation groups said the Florida permit should never have been granted. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote a letter urging FWC to suspend and review all such permits.
Florida Lawmakers Step Up to Protect Manta Rays
Their joint letter, known as the “Manta Ray Letter,” called on the commission to “immediately suspend further issuance of marine special activity licenses that authorize the live capture of threatened or endangered marine wildlife.” The letter’s signers included U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Stuart; state Reps. Lindsay Cross of St. Petersburg; Peggy Gossett-Seidman of Highland Beach; Meg Weinberger of Palm Beach Gardens; and state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
In response, the FWC announced on Aug. 19, 2025, that it would pause new permits for sharks and rays protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The agency also removed authorization for ESA-listed species from several existing permits.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said the agency is “revisiting (their) policies related to issuing Marine SALs involving prohibited marine species.”
Formal rule changes are expected to be discussed in 2026.
