Latest news with #Panama City Beach
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Giant Endangered Manta Ray Roughly Taken from Florida Waters to Be Put Into Captivity with Official Approval
'I mean, he was in pain. That animal was in pain," a witness alleged of the aquatic animal Florida locals are calling out state authorities after a dolphin tours company saw a crew capturing an endangered giant manta ray earlier this month. In a now-viral reel first shared to Facebook by Panama City Beach-based Water Planet USA on July 12, staff aboard the touring company's boat recorded video of five men roughly removing the fish from its natural habitat and placing it in a small pool for transport. 'Unfortunately, on todays tour- we witnessed a heartbreaking scene,' the video's caption read. The clip has since been shared by local outlets, including WPLG and the Orlando Sentinel, with the latter reporting that the giant endangered manta ray will be taken to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, despite it being a protected species. Water Planet USA told its followers that they should be 'outraged' by what had taken place. 'This video shows a giant manta ray—perfectly healthy—harvested just off Panama City Beach under a permit held by Sea World. It's heartbreaking and unacceptable,' the post continued. Although catching manta rays is generally banned in Florida, the state can allow special licenses for purposes that "increase the public's knowledge and awareness of Florida's marine resources." The license to capture the manta ray on July 12 was issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which allowed for one of the animals to be captured for exhibition purposes, per the Sentinel. PEOPLE has reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "As a citizen of this country, you have the right and the moral obligation to address the issue with your local representatives, of our Government issuing permits for the cruel and inhumane capture of ocean mega fauna such as the giant manta ray for public display, especially if our marine resources are exported overseas for gainful purposes,' Denis Richard of Water Planet USA, who was present when the video was filmed, told PEOPLE in a statement. 'These permits are a disgrace and an insult to our country's and the world's scientific community," Richard continued. No one from Water Planet USA appeared on-camera, but someone from their boat could be heard yelling, 'Let him go! You should be ashamed of yourselves!' SeaWorld Abu Dhabi opened in May 2023 and operates as a research, rescue & rehabilitation center. It is the first SeaWorld park outside of the U.S. and the first park without orcas. It is also the largest indoor marine-life theme park. However, Richard says that's still not good enough. 'The risks of that manta ray being traumatized and possibly dying in that process are very high because they are a very sensitive species,' the Water Planet USA founder and CEO told the Orlando Sentinel. He told WPLG his thoughts on witnessing the capture: 'I was horrified, and everybody on board was really upset," Richard told WPLG of witnessing the capture. 'I mean, he was in pain. That animal was in pain.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Giant manta rays are the world's largest ray with a wingspan of up to 26 feet, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service, a U.S. federal agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This species of rays has 'highly fragmented populations,' and their main threats are commercial fishing, the agency said. It is considered a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach SeaWorld Abu Dhabi for comment. Read the original article on People
News.com.au
17-07-2025
- News.com.au
Tourists outrage over sight on board fishing boat in Florida
A video shot by a boatload of tourists has sparked international outrage, with some calling for charges to be laid against the fishermen behind the catch as well as the global company who allegedly requested the creature. 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.' 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.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Footage of manta ray being captured in Florida raises animal welfare concerns
A video depicting the capture of a giant manta ray near Panama City Beach, Florida, has sparked widespread outrage over animal welfare and conservation practices. Denis Richard, founder of Water Planet USA, recorded the incident, observing five people struggling to bring the endangered creature onto their boat. Richard expressed horror at the manta ray's distress, noting it appeared to have been snagged rather than hooked, and was subsequently placed into a small deck pool. Despite giant oceanic manta rays being protected under the Endangered Species Act, the captors possessed a Marine Special Activity License permitting the take of one manta ray for exhibition. The group involved is a Marathon-based company that supplies marine life to aquariums and stores, such as SeaWorld.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH: Commercial boat crew caught manta ray near Panama City Beach
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A new viral video is making its way through the Bay County community. A dolphin tour team captured the moment crews on a commercial boat near Panama City Beach caught a manta ray on Saturday. The video shows the crew pulling the animal up onto the boat from a net. News 13 reached out to Florida Fish and Wildlife on Sunday about the incident, and they were able to confirm that the vessel did have a special permit for manta ray research, but did not have information on who the permit was filed by. Tow truck driver saved the day as car ignites in flames at gas station in Bay County Water Planet CEO Denis Richard was onboard the nearby boat when the whole thing went down. He says pulling an animal out of its natural habitat is not the only way to do research. 'You don't need to capture an animal and put it in a tank on display to educate the public. You can do it in the wild, and we do it in the wild, in the field. There are way less invasive techniques nowadays. There's drone technology. There is, you know, with whales and dolphins, they can extend the pole and collect the breath of the animal. That's an example,' Richard said. We reached out to the Office of Marine Fisheries Management, which is in charge of permits, but their office was closed on Sunday. This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
