Wildlife

Coral Reef Fish Welfare and Cyanide Fishing

Cyanide fishing for the aquarium trade causes mass mortality of reef fish and reef damage with significant welfare implications.

Key Facts

An estimated 20 million marine fish are caught for the aquarium trade annually
Cyanide stunning causes organ damage and high mortality rates post-capture
Up to 80% of fish caught with cyanide die before reaching retailers
Sustainable net-caught alternatives exist but require market support

Welfare Considerations

Fish caught with cyanide experience neurological damage from the poison, then organ failure as they slowly die over days to weeks after capture. Many are sold while appearing healthy but die shortly after purchase. The practice destroys reefs that thousands of other species depend on. The welfare costs extend across the entire ecosystem.

What You Can Do

Only buy marine aquarium fish certified as sustainably net-caught
Ask retailers about their sourcing and reject cyanide-caught fish
Support Aquarium Council certification programs
Advocate for stronger import regulations on marine ornamental fish