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.

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Outrage after video shows Florida fishing group capturing protected manta ray from water