Tourists outrage over sight on board fishing boat in Florida
The short clip, which has gone viral, shows five men hauling in a massive manta ray from the ocean that surrounds Shell Island off Panama City Beach in Florida.
The disturbing footage shows the large animal struggling in a black net as the fishermen haul what is believed to be a female manta ray aboard their white boat.
Speaking to local media 10 News, Denis Richard — the founder and CEO of dolphin swim tour company Water Planet USA — recorded the video while on his way back to the marina with a group of tourists.
Mr Richard claims the men struggled to bring up what he initially believed was a shark before realising it was an endangered giant manta ray.
'I was horrified, and everybody on board was really upset,' Richard said of the ordeal, which left his boatload of tourists shocked, horrified and angry.
'We saw the wings of a manta ray and the manta ray was not hooked through the mouth … So they must have snagged him.'
Mr Richard claims the mammoth ray was dumped into a small pool on board the boat, with the fisherman allegedly appearing to celebrate the fact they'd snagged a female.
''Oh, good, that's a female,' Mr Richard claims one of the fisherman said, adding the animal would've 'been in pain'.
While these giant oceanic manta rays are protected under the Endangered Species Act, some fishermen who hold a permit to harvest these animals under a Marine Special Activity License means they are technically allowed to catch and keep.
According to The Independent, the group of fisherman did have a permit and that their company typically supplies marine life caught around Florida and the Caribbean 'to public aquariums and stores, such as SeaWorld.'
In a statement shared by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a spokesperson said while they are aware of the video circulating on social media, the fisherman didn't commit a crime.
'The take of manta rays is prohibited in state waters. However, the capture of the ray shown in this video was permitted by a Marine Special Activity License that allowed for the take of one manta ray.
'The Marine Special Activity License Program issues licenses for activities requiring a marine fisheries regulation waiver. Activities that are licensed by this program include, but are not limited to, scientific research, education, exhibition, aquaculture, and more.'
News.com.au has contacted the marine supplied, with the company describing themselves as 'effectively' serving aquarist customers by 'discovering, acquiring, and acclimating difficult-to-capture marine life of all sizes for public display or the home hobbyist.' It is understood the company has been in practice since 1984.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the wild female manta ray 'doesn't belong' in captivity.
'Manta rays are gentle, intelligent fish who glide through the open ocean using their wide, winglike fins,' the non-governmental organisation said on their website.
'They belong in the ocean, not behind glass at a marine park for humans to gawk at.
'These men abducted this manta ray from the only home she has likely ever known. This is the last time she'll feel ocean waves.'
Local 10 News — a television station in Miami, Florida and who is affiliated with ABC (America) — confirmed that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi contracted the marine supply group to procure the giant manta ray.
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