Catch/release stingray

[billingw]

While visiting Naples, Florida city pier, a stingray was caught by a fisherman and brought up to the pier humanely with help from others who used a large metal ring with net attached. They also used this ring for raising pelicans who were accidently hooked. My question: why did they cut off, first, the barb and then, second, the entire tail of the ray? I believe they then released it, but maybe they kept it for food or for some other reason. Some people were , thinking it was mutilation. The ray was about 1.5 to 2 feet in diameter and lightly colored.
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