Aquatic Animals

Aquarium Fish Capture and Transport Welfare

The marine aquarium trade captures an estimated 30 million fish annually using cyanide and physical methods that cause high mortality and chronic welfare harms.

Key Facts

The marine aquarium trade captures 30 million fish and 1.5 million live corals annually
Cyanide poisoning is used illegally to stun fish for capture in 75% of the trade
Mortality rates from capture through transport can exceed 80% for some species
Most marine aquarium fish are wild-caught rather than captive-bred

Welfare Considerations

Fish subjected to cyanide capture experience toxic stress, organ damage, and delayed mortality. Transport conditions involve cramped bags, temperature shock, and oxygen depletion. Many fish die within weeks of reaching retail stores. Even survivors in home aquaria often lack the space, complexity, and conspecifics their species requires.

What You Can Do

Choose captive-bred fish for any aquarium from certified responsible breeders
Avoid purchasing wild-caught marine fish, especially clownfish and tangs
Support Reef Check and the Marine Aquarium Council certification standards
Consider freshwater aquarium fish, which have higher captive-breeding rates