Reef fish collected for the aquarium trade and those living on threatened coral reefs face complex welfare challenges that science is only beginning to quantify.
Reef fish face welfare challenges across their entire lifecycle in the aquarium trade: capture stress, transport, and often inadequate captive care. The collection methods used in some regions cause direct physical harm and habitat destruction. Fish welfare science now clearly supports that reef species experience something analogous to pain and distress. Regulatory reform, consumer education, and expansion of captive-breeding programs represent the most impactful levers for improvement.