Aquarium Fishkeeping and Wild Capture Welfare

The marine aquarium trade captures millions of coral reef fish using methods that cause high mortality and welfare harm throughout the supply chain.

Key Facts

Approximately 20 to 24 million marine fish are captured for the aquarium trade annually
Cyanide fishing — squirting sodium cyanide to stun fish — is illegal but widespread in parts of the Philippines and Indonesia
Up to 80% of reef fish captured with cyanide die before reaching the retail stage
Net capture methods have lower mortality rates but are restricted to certain habitats and species
Captive-bred marine fish are available for over 300 species but represent less than 10% of the trade

Welfare Considerations

Wild capture for the aquarium trade involves immense mortality at every stage of the supply chain. For every fish that reaches an aquarium, multiple die in capture, transit, and distribution. Cyanide-caught fish that survive initial capture often die within weeks from organ damage. The welfare cost per surviving animal is extremely high.

What You Can Do

Ask aquarium stores to verify the origin of marine fish and choose captive-bred species when available
Support certification initiatives including the Marine Aquarium Council that promote net-only capture methods
Advocate for import regulations requiring source documentation for marine aquarium fish