Grouper aquaculture is expanding rapidly across Southeast Asia, with significant welfare challenges around stocking density, transport, and slaughter that require urgent attention as production scales up.
Groupers transported live in densely packed conditions experience extreme stress, hypoxia, and physical injury. The live fish trade prioritises consumer preference for freshness over animal welfare, creating systemic welfare problems. High stocking densities cause chronic stress and aggression. Welfare standards for grouper, as with many emerging aquaculture species, are virtually non-existent and require urgent development as production expands.