Groupers are premium food fish farmed across Southeast Asia, with wild-caught juvenile supply chains and transport mortality among the key welfare concerns.
Grouper welfare is compromised throughout the production cycle. Wild capture of juveniles involves trawl or trap stress and significant bycatch mortality. Live fish transport — central to the premium grouper market — causes acute stress through crowding, poor water quality, and temperature fluctuations. In grow-out cages, territoriality drives chronic aggression. Hatchery technology to reduce wild seed reliance and improved live transport protocols are key welfare priorities.