Marine activists are shedding light on a shocking situation and calling for more protection in Maltese waters. A diver shared photos of multiple dead string rays on the seabed beneath the Blue Grotto.

The diver, Sergey Markov, said he saw about 25 rays, saying they may have been accidentally caught by local fisherman and thrown back once realising what they caught.

Other divers and marine activists quickly chimed in about Malta’s situation also roping in issues on land. “Unbelievable if they aren’t chopping down all the trees and shooting anything that flies now they’re killing anything that swims, well done Malta,” said one Facebook user.

Rays are pretty common in Malta, and it’s not the first time that they’ve been spotted in waters. They’re usually found in sandy areas as they often hide themselves under the sediment.

“Unbelievable! This is so sad! Bycatch is a common issue with certain fishing methods, but 25 rays is just cruel! Thank you for bringing this to light Sergey. People need to be aware of some of the things we see underwater as divers,” someone else said. Another person also questioned whether something can be done to get the rays protected.