Tourism
Manta tourism not only raises awareness of the majestic manta ray’s plight, but also raises money for the local economy. Manta tourism has had such an impact on Indonesia that officials banned manta ray fishing after realizing that manta tourism was far more profitable!
One hunted manta ray could fetch a price of around $500, whereas a live animal as a tourist attraction can earn approximately $1 million in its lifetime. And manta rays aren’t the only fish that has made such an impact.