September 2025
© Jasmine Corbett
World Manta Day returns on 17th September 2025, a global celebration of manta and devil rays and a call to action for their protection. These majestic ocean giants face growing threats from international trade, overfishing, and habitat loss. This year’s theme, The Power of Protection, highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards. The Manta Trust, together with its incredible partners and supporters, is offering a wide range of events, campaigns, prize draws, and online talks for everyone to get involved.
© Guy Stevens
The Power of Protection
From local communities to global policy, every action counts. World Manta Day 2025 calls on individuals, governments, and organisations to unite behind science, advocacy, and legal protections to ensure manta and devil rays not only survive but thrive. Supporting international trade bans, raising awareness, and sharing conservation stories all play a vital role in protecting these iconic species.
Events for All Ages
Primary Students: Online Talk
17 September 2025 | 13:30 – 14:15 BST
STEM Ambassador Jen from the Manta Trust will introduce young learners to the world of manta and devil rays, exploring why they matter and how we protect them. This fun, interactive session includes a moderated Q&A for ages 5–11 via MS Teams Live, with built-in safeguarding features.Secondary Students: Online Talk
17 September 2025 | 08:40 – 09:10 BST
Designed for ages 11–18, this live session will explore the science, threats, and urgent conservation needs of mobulids. Participants can ask questions while learning about the impact of international trade and critical policy decisions.Rays of Hope: In-Person Event
25 September 2025 | 19:00 BST | Neal Street, London
Join Oceanographic Magazine, Finisterre, and the Manta Trust for an evening of ocean storytelling, celebrating the power of protection and the vital role of conservation.
An Unforgettable Ocean Adventure
To mark World Manta Day, the Manta Trust is offering a prize draw for a 10-day liveaboard dive or snorkel trip in the Maldives aboard the luxury EcoPro Seascape. Guests will explore vibrant reefs, encounter manta rays, whale sharks, and sea turtles, and learn from expert guides, all while supporting vital marine conservation work.
#SaveTheMantas Campaign
Join the #SaveTheMantas campaign this World Manta Day by wearing campaign t-shirts, sharing photos online, and tagging posts with #SaveTheMantas. All contributions will become part of a visual mural at the CITES CoP20 conference, demonstrating global support for protecting manta and devil rays.
Why Protection Matters
Despite global protections under CITES Appendix II, manta and devil ray populations continue to decline. Overfishing for gill plates and meat consumption remains the primary threat, while their slow reproductive rates make mobulids highly vulnerable.
A proposed uplisting to CITES Appendix I would ban all commercial international trade, closing loopholes and simplifying enforcement. Led by Ecuador and backed by a coalition of governments and NGOs, this proposal offers a practical path to safeguarding these extraordinary species for the future.
“Strong protections are urgently needed to prevent the loss of these remarkable animals,” says Dr. Guy Stevens, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of the Manta Trust. “World Manta Day is a moment for the world to stand together, tell the story of these gentle giants, and make a real difference.”
Press Release Credits
Written by: Jasmine Corbett
Images: Photographer’s credit in image file name – ensure that credit is given if images are used.
For Media Enquiries
Contact: Jasmine Corbett
Manta Trust Media and Communications Manager
Email: jasmine.corbett@mantatrust.org
About the Manta Trust
The Manta Trust is a UK-registered marine conservation charity dedicated to the research and protection of manta and devil rays and their habitats. Through research, education, and collaboration, the Manta Trust works to ensure a sustainable future for these extraordinary creatures.