Fishing for Facts: an introduction to the UK ornamental fish trade…
A report published by the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association Ltd
Tropical fish are the most populous pet in the UK, with an estimated 14% of the UK population keeping them. There are increasing calls for additional measures to control or even ban the trade and keeping of so called ‘exotic pets’, a broad categorisation that can include tropical fish. Many of these calls are based on significant misunderstandings about the trade and, if acted upon in the absence of the facts, risk decisions being made with serious unwanted outcomes.
This report, based on a wealth of robust evidence and research, aims to dispel many of the misconceptions about the trade, demonstrating they are often over-exaggerated and misrepresent the facts. The report shows that, unlike much of what you might hear, tropical fish are well regulated, do not pose a significant biosecurity, invasive or zoonotic disease risk, and high welfare standards are maintained throughout the supply chain
If you find the report interesting, you might also be interested to see the recent documentary Wild Caught: Aquarium Fish Trade of the Amazon.