Coral Reef Fish Welfare and the Aquarium Trade

How wild capture and cyanide fishing for the aquarium trade harms reef fish welfare and threatens coral reef ecosystems.

Key Facts

Over 20 million marine fish are collected for the aquarium trade each year
Up to 80% of marine ornamental fish in some regions are collected using cyanide
Cyanide stuns fish but causes organ damage and high post-capture mortality
Reefs damaged by collection techniques take decades to recover
Captive-bred marine fish are available for an increasing number of species

Welfare Considerations

The journey from reef to aquarium involves multiple welfare insults for wild-caught fish. Cyanide exposure causes physiological damage and delayed mortality. Collection from coral heads causes physical injury. Transport in small bags with limited oxygen over long distances causes stress and oxygen deprivation. The aquarium trade mortality rate is estimated at 30-50% before fish reach the buyer. Even fish that survive to display tanks often die within a year from inappropriate care.

What You Can Do

Only purchase captive-bred marine fish where available
Ask your aquarium store about the source and collection method of all fish
Avoid species known to be collected with cyanide (e.g., many triggerfish, wrasses)
Support certification schemes for sustainable reef fish collection
Consider freshwater aquaria which have more captive-bred options