Fish

Tropical Fish Welfare: Cyanide Fishing and the Reef Trade

The tropical marine aquarium fish trade collects over 30 million fish annually from coral reefs, primarily using cyanide that harms fish and reefs.

Key Facts

An estimated 30 million marine fish are collected annually for the aquarium trade
Cyanide is used to stun fish for collection in 15-20% of reef fish captures
Cyanide-stunned fish die within weeks from liver damage even when appearing healthy
The Philippines and Indonesia supply over 70% of the global marine aquarium trade
Captive-bred marine fish exist for some species but wild-caught remains dominant

Welfare Considerations

Cyanide-stunned fish experience acute poisoning that affects the central nervous system and organs. Fish that appear to have recovered die within weeks from cumulative organ damage. The reef habitat is also damaged by cyanide, which bleaches coral. Fish that survive cyanide collection and transport face stress from the aquarium supply chain including temperature shocks, starvation during transport, and adjustment to aquarium conditions.

What You Can Do

Choose Marine Aquarium Council certified fish for your aquarium
Ask your aquarium store whether fish are cyanide-free and wild-caught or captive-bred
Support captive breeding programs for popular marine species
Advocate for import certification requirements for marine aquarium fish
Donate to reef conservation organizations working to end cyanide fishing