Indonesia on Friday instituted the world's biggest manta ray sanctuary covering millions of square kilometers as it seeks to protect the huge winged fish and draw more tourists to the sprawling archipelago.

The Republic of Maldives holds the distinction of being the world's largest manta ray sanctuary, specifically within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Maldives government declared its entire territorial waters a sanctuary for all shark and ray species in 2010. Within this vast area, Hanifaru Bay is a globally renowned "hotspot" where the unique shape of the reef and the monsoon currents trap high concentrations of plankton. During the peak season from May to November, this phenomenon attracts hundreds of manta rays simultaneously, creating what is known as "cyclone feeding." In addition to the Maldives, Indonesia also hosts one of the world's largest designated manta ray sanctuaries, covering over 6 million square kilometers of ocean. These protected zones are critical for the survival of both Reef Mantas (Mobulaalfredi) and Giant Oceanic Mantas (Mobulabirostris), prohibiting commercial fishing and trade to protect these slow-growing, highly intelligent giants from population decline due to overfishing and habitat loss.