Coral groupers are among the most valued fish in the live reef fish trade serving Chinese restaurants, with severe welfare problems associated with capture by cyanide, live holding, and long-distance air freight.
Coral grouper welfare in the live reef fish trade is severely compromised at multiple points. Cyanide exposure causes acute toxic effects including impaired gill function, organ damage, and neurological effects that persist after recovery, with high post-capture mortality. Holding in live boxes on reefs before export causes crowding stress, disease, and starvation. Long-distance air transport in small volumes of water causes hypoxia, temperature stress, and physical injury. Live fish arriving at restaurant holding tanks experience further extended confinement before being killed by methods that may include live stripping of scales or live cutting. The welfare costs across the entire supply chain are substantial and poorly regulated.