Marine aquarium keeping involves millions of wild-caught fish and invertebrates annually, with high mortality rates during collection, transport, and in home aquaria.
Marine aquarium welfare involves multiple stages of harm: cyanide stun fishing causes sublethal toxicity and reef destruction; transport from remote collection sites involves density, temperature, and oxygen stress; home aquarium conditions frequently do not match wild habitat requirements. The high mortality rate means most saltwater aquarium fish experience prolonged stress before death. Captive-bred alternatives and responsible wild-harvest certifications exist for a growing number of species.