Marine

Wild Coral Reef Fish Welfare and Collection Trade

Wild-caught marine ornamental fish experience high mortality through collection, transport and acclimatisation. Understanding this welfare problem informs responsible aquarium hobby choices.

Key Facts

Around 20-25 million wild marine fish are collected annually for the aquarium trade
Cyanide poisoning is still used in parts of the Philippines and Indonesia to stun fish
Transport mortality of 20-40% occurs before fish reach retail aquarium stores
Captive-bred alternatives are available for an increasing number of popular species

Welfare Considerations

Wild-caught marine fish welfare suffers across the entire collection and transport chain. Choosing captive-bred species, supporting responsible wild collection certification, and avoiding cyanide-collected fish reduces individual welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Choose captive-bred marine fish species for home aquariums
Ask aquarium suppliers about collection methods and certification
Support the Marine Aquarium Council certification for responsible wild collection