Billions of live fish are transported annually for aquaculture, the ornamental trade, and restocking programs, with water quality, density, and handling practices during transport causing significant welfare impacts.
Fish transport welfare is among the most poorly regulated areas of animal use, despite the enormous number of animals involved. The physiological stress of transport — from crowding, water chemistry changes, vibration, and handling — activates the same stress response pathways in fish as those documented to cause suffering in mammals. Fish transported under poor conditions show elevated cortisol for hours to days after arrival, suppressed immune function, increased disease susceptibility, and behavioural abnormalities consistent with chronic stress states. The ornamental fish trade in particular operates largely without welfare oversight, with mortality rates that would be considered scandalous in any other livestock sector accepted as normal industry practice.