Public records reveal thousands of sharks and rays have been legally taken from the wild into captivity under the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) ‘Special Activity License’ over the past decade, including many with protections under Florida law, the ESA, or CITES. SALs authorize corporations to “harvest and permanently retain” marine wildlife, disproportionately for threatened species. Corporations stocking tanks with wild sharks and rays include highly accredited aquaria across the world, but concentrated heavily in the Southeastern US. These figures reflect permits. Actual numbers of animals captured remain to be uncovered.

More than two thirds of sharks and rays permitted for capture in the past decade were redlisted. Animals targeted in permits include critically endangered species such as hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, and bentfin devil rays. The top species was the cownose ray, a social pelagic migrator captured in huge numbers for the exploding demand for touch tanks.

95% of third-party contract licenses named Dynasty Marine — the corporation filmed capturing a manta in July. Dynasty Marine owner Ben Daughtry also owns a facility called Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters on Marathon Key. Previously released records show the manta was held here before export to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Other licensed holding facilities in satellite imagery appear to be repurposed private swimming pools.

This investigation is ongoing and these figures do not include hundreds of other marine species licensed in capture permits. Future work will document them, as well as actual numbers reportedly captured.

Until February, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is accepting public comments on this program. Additionally, FWC is conducting an online ‘webinar‘ Thursday, Dec. 18th at 6PM EST, where revisions to the SAL program are on the agenda.

Fish Defender is a 501(c)3 organization of divers, scientists, and environmentalists dedicated to advocacy for imperiled marine fish species, based in Miami, Florida.