The live reef food fish trade involving groupers from wild capture and aquaculture creates severe welfare problems throughout the supply chain.
Live reef food fish trade welfare involves some of the most severe welfare violations in global fish trade. Cyanide stunning causes internal organ damage in surviving fish and chronic welfare harm. Live transport over thousands of kilometres in cramped, water-degrading conditions causes extreme prolonged stress. The preference for live fish drives consumer acceptance of supply chain practices that would be unacceptable for any other food animal. Aquaculture production of groupers reduces wild capture welfare issues but creates its own welfare challenges. Market transformation away from live fish preference toward humanely killed fresh fish would dramatically improve welfare outcomes across the supply chain.