Marine Animal Welfare

Coral Reef Fish Trade Welfare

The marine ornamental fish trade sources millions of coral reef fish annually for aquaria, raising welfare concerns from capture to sale.

Key Facts

An estimated 20-24 million marine fish are traded for aquaria annually
Cyanide poisoning is still used in some regions to stun fish, causing organ damage
Post-capture mortality rates can be 80% or higher across the supply chain
Air freight transport causes significant stress, injury, and mortality
Captive-bred marine fish have higher survival rates and cause no wild depletion

Welfare Considerations

The marine ornamental trade inflicts substantial welfare harm through capture stress, transport mortality, and captive conditions; sourcing reform and captive breeding are urgent priorities.

What You Can Do

Only purchase marine fish that are certified wild-caught sustainably or captive-bred
Ask pet shops about their supply chains and avoid cyanide-caught fish
Support campaigns for marine ornamental trade reform