Grouper farming is a major industry in Southeast Asia supplying the live reef fish food trade, with significant welfare concerns related to live transport, capture fishing for seeds, and high-value trade practices.
The live fish trade causes significant welfare harm through prolonged transport stress, handling, and confinement during transit. Cyanide-caught fish experience acute poisoning and many die before reaching market; survivors may have internal organ damage. Grouper held in restaurant tanks often suffer from inadequate water quality, no feeding, and chronic stress before slaughter without effective stunning. The high market value of grouper creates economic incentives that have historically overridden welfare considerations, making regulatory intervention particularly important.