World Manta Day returns on 17 September 2025, and the Manta Trust is marking the occasion with a series of events, including online talks for students, a push for the charity’s #savethemantas campaign and a prize draw to win a Maldives liveaboard trip.
An in-person event, ‘Rays of Hope’, hosted by the Manta Trust and Oceanographic Magazine, will be held in London a week later, on 25 September in London’s Covent Garden.
Expert speakers at the event will include documentary filmmaker and Manta Trust patron Doug Allan, artist and photographer Francesca Page, and Manta Trust Media and Communications Manager, Jasmine Corbett.
World Manta Day events for all ages
Primary Students: Online Talk
17 September 2025 | 13:30 – 14:15 BST
The Manta Trust’s STEM Ambassador Jen Spacagna will introduce young learners to the world of manta and devil rays, exploring why they matter and how we protect them. The fun, interactive session includes a moderated Q&A for ages 5–11 via MS Teams Live, with built-in safeguarding features – learn more and register here
Secondary Students: Online Talk
17 September 2025 | 08:40 – 09:10 BST
A live session designed for ages 11–18, which 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 – learn more and register
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 – learn more and register
Maldives Manta prize draw
Enter the Manta Trust prize draw before 30 September for the chance to win a 10-day liveaboard dive or snorkel trip to the Maldives aboard the luxury EcoPro Seascape. Winners will have the chance to explore the vibrant reefs of four different atolls, encounter manta rays, whale sharks, and sea turtles, all while learning from expert guides and supporting vital marine conservation work – enter here
#SaveTheMantas Campaign
Join the Manta Trust’s #SaveTheMantas campaign for 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 – learn more and order here
The power of protection
The theme of this year’s World Manta Day is ‘The Power of Protection’, through which the charity aims to raise awareness of the need for better global protections for manta rays and their devil ray cousins.
Although all mobulid species are listed on Appendix II of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), this does not completely eliminate trade in their products, and populations of all ten currently described species are in decline.
Overfishing for gill plates and meat consumption remain the primary threats facing mobulid rays, while their slow reproductive rates makes them highly vulnerable to unsustainable fishing practices.
Led by Ecuador and backed by a coalition of governments and NGOs, a proposed uplisting of mantas and mobulas to CITES Appendix I at the CITES Conference of the Parties in November would prohibit all international trade in mobulid products, close regulatory loopholes, and simplify enforcement of the ban.
Why protection matters
‘World Manta Day is a global celebration of manta and devil rays and a call to action for their protection,’ said Manta Trust Media and Communications Manager, Jasmine Corbett.
‘These majestic ocean giants face growing threats from international trade, overfishing, and habitat loss.
‘From local communities to global policy, every action counts,’ added Corbett. ‘World Manta Day 2025 is calling 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.’
‘Strong protections are urgently needed to prevent the loss of these remarkable animals,’ said Dr Guy Stevens, Co-Founder and CEO 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.’
Find out more on the #SaveTheManta’s campaign pages, and follow the Manta Trust on Instagram @mantatrust
