Millions of live fish are transported globally for the ornamental trade. The welfare impacts of transport stress are significant and frequently underappreciated by purchasers.
Live fish transport imposes severe welfare stress. Fish are concentrated at high densities in small volumes of water, causing oxygen depletion and ammonia accumulation. Transport may last days or weeks from collection sites to retail stores. Cyanide fishing, used to stun reef fish for collection, directly damages fish physiology and gill function. Fish that survive transport may be weakened, injured, or carrying infectious disease that manifests weeks later in aquarium settings. The mortality rate across the supply chain from reef to retail exceeds 50 percent for some species. Choosing captive-bred fish where available, and supporting marine aquaculture development, can substantially reduce transport welfare impacts.