The marine aquarium trade sources millions of fish from coral reefs annually. Welfare impacts of collection, transport, and captive keeping are significant but improvements in practice and sourcing are possible.
Marine fish welfare in the aquarium trade involves welfare costs at every stage from reef to tank. Cyanide-caught fish experience internal organ damage and often die within weeks of appearing healthy in a display tank. Transport stress from Pacific collection points to retail in Europe or North America involves multiple transfers, often inadequate water quality, and days without food. Home aquaria that cannot meet a species' needs - space requirements for tangs, dietary needs of seahorses, social needs of schooling species - create chronic welfare compromise. The welfare-improving options are clear: source captive-bred where available, purchase from responsible net-caught suppliers, and research species requirements thoroughly.