Editing Manta ray (section)

==Relation with humans==
[[Image:MantarayMocheLMC.jpg|thumb|right|Ceramic manta ray made by Moche people, 200 AD, [[Larco Museum]] Lima, Peru|alt=Photo of manta-shaped ceramic vessel with painting of another on its surface]]
The ancient [[Peru]]vian [[Moche (culture)|Moche]] people worshipped the sea and its animals. Their art often depicts manta rays.<ref name="Berrin1997">{{cite book|first=Kathleen |last=Berrin|title=The Spirit of Ancient Peru: Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=_9sjPAAACAAJ}}|year=1997|publisher=Thames and Hudson|isbn=978-0-88401-092-0}}</ref> Historically, mantas were feared for their size and power. Sailors believed that they were dangerous to humans and could pull ships out to sea by the anchor. This attitude changed around 1976, when divers around the Gulf of California found them to be placid and safe to interact with. Several divers photographed themselves with mantas, including ''[[Jaws (novel)|Jaws]]'' author [[Peter Benchley]].<ref name="Ellis2004">{{cite book|first=Richard |last=Ellis|title=Monsters of the Sea|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=nzfvYlO1hDcC}}|year=2004|publisher=Lyons Press|pages=9–11|isbn=978-1-59228-967-7}}</ref>

===Aquariums===
[[File:Mobula.jpg|thumb|left|''Manta alfredi'' at [[Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium]]]]
The Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium acquired mantas in 1978 which survived for four days.<ref>{{cite book|author=佐藤 圭一|title=沖縄美ら海水族館はなぜ役に立たない研究をするのか?|publisher=産業編集センター}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://jses.info/mngmnt/wp-content/uploads/report/bansai_report_014.pdf　|title=1982年日本板鰓類研究会会報 第14号|publisher= 板鰓類研究会 |access-date=2021-12-29|language=Japanese}}</ref> In addition, at the [[Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium]], a male manta ray, which started captivity in 1992 at its predecessor, the Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium, was recorded to have lived for approximately 23 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churaumi.okinawa/sp/userfiles/files/about/research/h26_nepou.pdf　|title=平成２６年度 沖縄美ら海水族館年報|publisher=Okinawa Churaumi aquarium |access-date=2021-05-29|language=Japanese}}</ref> The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium houses manta rays in the "Kuroshio Sea" tank, one of the largest aquarium tanks in the world. The first manta ray birth in captivity took place there in 2007. Although this pup did not survive, the aquarium has since had the birth of four more manta rays in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.<ref name=iucn2/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churaumi.okinawa/userfiles/files/about/research/h22-23_nepou.pdf　|title=平成22-23年度 沖縄美ら海水族館年報|publisher=Okinawa Churaumi aquarium |access-date=2021-05-29|language=Japanese}}</ref> However, although Manta became pregnant in 2012, she was stillborn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churaumi.okinawa/userfiles/files/about/research/h24_nepou.pdf　|title=平成24年度 沖縄美ら海水族館年報|publisher=Okinawa Churaumi aquarium |access-date=2021-05-29|language=Japanese}}</ref> In 2013, she became pregnant, but her mother, manta ray, died and the pup that was taken out died.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churaumi.okinawa/userfiles/files/about/research/h25_nepou.pdf　|title=平成25年度 沖縄美ら海水族館年報|publisher=Okinawa Churaumi aquarium |access-date=2021-05-29|language=Japanese}}</ref> In August 2024, a female all black body manta ray kept in the Kuroshio tank gave birth. The pups were born black all over like their mother, {{Convert|1.6|m|ft|0}} wide, and weighed {{Convert|42|kg|lb|0}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churaumi.okinawa/blog/1723021258/ |title=【世界初！！ブラックマンタが産まれました！】 |publisher=Okinawa Churaumi aquarium |access-date=2024-08-06}}</ref>

There are currently three mantas spending time at the [[Georgia Aquarium]].<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Manta-Ray-Specialty.pdf |title= SPC 641 Specialty |publisher= Georgia Aquarium |access-date= 2021-12-29 |archive-date= 29 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211229002217/https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Manta-Ray-Specialty.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> One notable individual is "Nandi", a manta ray which was accidentally caught in shark nets off [[Durban]], South Africa, in 2007. Rehabilitated and outgrowing her aquarium at [[uShaka Marine World]], Nandi was moved to the larger Georgia Aquarium in August 2008, where she resides in its 23,848 m<sup>3</sup> (6,300,000 US gal) "Ocean Voyager" exhibit.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Georgia Aquarium is excited to welcome Nandi, the manta ray! |publisher=George Aquarium.org |access-date=May 13, 2013 |url=http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/nandi/about-nandi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129164718/http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/nandi/about-nandi/ |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }}</ref> A second manta ray, "Tallulah", joined that aquarium's collection in September 2009<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Second New Manta Ray |publisher=Georgia Aquarium.org |url=http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/newsroom/pressdetail.aspx?id=147 |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131140033/http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/newsroom/pressdetail.aspx?id=147 |archive-date=January 31, 2012 }}</ref> and a third was added in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Third Manta Ray |publisher=George Aquarium.org |url=http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/newsroom/pressdetail.aspx?id=159 |date=April 22, 2013 |access-date=September 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303200029/http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/newsroom/pressdetail.aspx?id=159 |archive-date=March 3, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Atlantis Paradise Island|Atlantis]] resort on [[Paradise Island]], Bahamas, hosted a manta named "Zeus" that was used as a research subject for three years until it was released in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Giant manta ray released after years of research|newspaper=USAToday.com|date=May 8, 2008|access-date=May 16, 2013|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-05-08-ray-release_N.htm?csp=341020}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Giant oceanic manta ray.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Manta and scuba diver|''Manta birostris'' and scuba diver]]
Manta ray tourism is estimated to generate over US$73 million per year and brings US$140 million per year to local economies. The majority of global revenues come from ten countries: [[Japan]], [[Indonesia]], the [[Maldives]], [[Mozambique]], [[Thailand]], [[Australia]], [[Mexico]], [[United States]], the [[Federated States of Micronesia]] and [[Palau]].<ref>{{cite journal|author1=O'Malley, M. P.|author2=Lee-Brooks, K.|author3=Medd, H. B.|year=2013|title=The Global Economic Impact of Manta Ray Watching Tourism|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=8|issue=5|page=e65051|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0065051|pmid=23741450|pmc=3669133|bibcode=2013PLoSO...865051O|doi-access=free}}</ref> Divers may get a chance to watch mantas visiting cleaning stations and [[Manta ray night dive|night dives]] enable viewers to see mantas feeding on plankton attracted by the lights.<ref name=Kona>{{cite web |url=http://www.konahonudivers.com/ |title=Kona, Hawaii Scuba Diving |publisher=Kona Honu Diving|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>

Ray tourism benefits locals and visitors by raising awareness of natural resource management and educating them about the animals.<ref name=tourism/> It can also provide funds for research and conservation.<ref name=Maldives>{{cite journal|author1=Anderson, R. C. |author2=Adam, M. S. |author3=Kitchen-Wheeler, A.-M. |author4=Stevens, G. |year=2011|title=Extent and economic value of manta ray watching in Maldives|journal=Tourism in Marine Environments|volume=7|issue=1|pages=15–27|doi=10.3727/154427310X12826772784793|s2cid=143733610 }}</ref> Constant unregulated interactions with tourists can negatively affect them by disrupting ecological relationships and increasing disease transmission.<ref name=tourism>{{cite book|first=Michael |last=Lück|title=The Encyclopedia of Tourism and Recreation in Marine Environments|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=Yuc2Aro6ukkC}}|year=2008|publisher=CABI|isbn=978-1-84593-350-0}}</ref>

In 2014, Indonesia banned fishing and export targeting mantas, as manta ray tourism is more economically beneficial than allowing them to be killed. A dead manta is worth $40 to $500, while the economic impact of tourism at a popular dive site can be $1 million per manta over its life,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Malley |first1=Mary P. |last2=Lee-Brooks |first2=Katie |last3=Medd |first3=Hannah B. |date=2013-05-31 |title=The Global Economic Impact of Manta Ray Watching Tourism |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=8 |issue=5 |pages=e65051 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0065051 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=3669133 |pmid=23741450|bibcode=2013PLoSO...865051O |doi-access=free }}</ref> the most famous spot for Manta Ray spotting being Manta Point located in Labuan Bajo.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://divetribekomodo.com/blog/manta-point-in-labuan-bajo-guide |title=Manta Point in Labuan Bajo: A Comprehensive Guide |publisher=Dive Tribe Komodo|access-date=October 4, 2024}}</ref> Indonesia has {{convert|5.8|e6km2|e6mi2|abbr=unit}} of ocean, and this is now the world's largest sanctuary for manta rays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/02/21/indonesia-hopes-cash-manta-ray-tourism.html |title=Indonesia hopes to cash in on manta ray tourism |author=Mason, Margie |date=February 21, 2014|website=TheJakartaPost}}</ref>

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