Editing Manta ray (section)

===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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