Tiger grouper is a high-value mariculture species in Southeast Asia dependent on wild-caught juveniles, raising welfare concerns across its capture, grow-out and slaughter stages.
Welfare concerns include aggression and cannibalism in high-density cages, net fouling reducing water flow causing hypoxia, wild fry capture causing mortality and injury, transport stress, and lack of humane slaughter practices. Grouper kept alive in markets may suffer prolonged stress and poor water quality. Live reef fish trade welfare standards are increasingly demanded by Hong Kong and mainland China buyers.