Fish and shellfish are transported live across long distances for markets and farming operations, with welfare implications that receive little regulatory attention.
Live aquatic animal transport is a welfare-critical stage that is largely unregulated compared to terrestrial animal transport. Fish experience physiological stress from handling, crowding, temperature change, and oxygen fluctuation during transport. Mortality rates are often treated as an acceptable cost of doing business rather than a welfare indicator requiring mitigation. Anaesthetic use during transport reduces stress and improves survival but requires trained handling and washout periods before slaughter. The most welfare-protective approaches combine pre-transport health screening, appropriate stocking density, oxygen supplementation, and temperature management throughout the journey.