Transporting live fish for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and stocking programs causes stress and mortality that can be reduced with better practices.
Live fish transport causes significant welfare suffering through crowding, water quality deterioration, and handling stress. The aquarium fish trade in particular transports billions of fish annually in conditions that cause high mortality and suffering in surviving fish. Tropical fish from capture in source countries to retail sale can pass through four to six changes of hands and water, each creating additional stress. Anesthetics like clove oil can reduce transport stress and mortality when used correctly. Reducing stocking densities, supplementing oxygen, managing water chemistry, and minimizing handling all improve welfare outcomes. Better practices have been developed and show significant welfare improvement but require education and incentives to implement widely.