Millions of reef fish are collected from wild reefs each year for the aquarium trade, with collection methods, transport stress, and mortality rates raising serious welfare concerns.
The marine ornamental fish trade causes welfare harm at every stage. Collection using cyanide stuns fish but damages their internal organs, causing delayed mortality. Even non-cyanide collection using nets causes acute stress and injury. Transport in small, overcrowded bags over long distances causes significant suffering. High mortality rates mean that for every fish reaching a home aquarium, multiple others died in the supply chain. Marine aquaculture of ornamentals and better transport standards represent the most meaningful welfare improvements available.