Live fish are transported at many stages of their production cycle, from hatchery to farm to processing. Transport is a significant welfare challenge requiring careful management.
Live fish transport exposes animals to multiple stressors simultaneously: handling, crowding, water quality changes, temperature fluctuations, and vibration. The combined effect produces severe stress responses measurable in cortisol levels and immune suppression. Mortality during transport is often used as the primary welfare metric, but surviving fish may suffer considerably without dying. Best practice includes pre-transport fasting, carefully managed water oxygen levels, density reduction, and minimising transport duration.