The aquarium fish industry continues to face increasing scrutiny from governments, regulators, and the general public. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have triggered new levels of concern about wildlife trade and disease transmission, the reality is that biosecurity has always been — and must remain — a cornerstone of our industry's sustainability.

As an industry that spans borders and species, biosecurity is not just a compliance box to tick; it is an operational and reputational imperative. A single lapse can result in widespread disease outbreaks, trade restrictions, or damage to public confidence. Yet with proper systems in place, aquarium fish can be moved safely, legally, and responsibly across the globe — something the industry has been doing for decades.

The Context: Post-COVID Pressures and Regulatory Trends

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered major disruptions across the supply chain — reduced international flights, increased freight costs, and in some cases, temporary bans on movement of live animals. At the same time, activists renewed calls for a blanket ban on all wildlife trade, including aquarium fish, claiming it could pose future zoonotic risks.

Meanwhile, regulatory frameworks around the world are evolving rapidly:

• Increasing Health Certificate requirements in many countries such as  Australia and Canada

• The EU’s increasing use of the precautionary principle in aquatic biosecurity and invasive species regulation

• Asian authorities tightening standards for quarantine and certification

All of these trends point in the same direction: our industry must proactively demonstrate high health and hygiene standards, or face being legislated out of market access.

What Does Strong Biosecurity Look Like?

At the facility level, biosecurity must be approached as a system, not a one-off checklist. Some of the key pillars include:

1. Sourcing Fish Responsibly

• Start with healthy fish from reliable, certified suppliers.

• Keep supplier numbers low — each new supplier introduces potential new pathogens.

• Be aware of seasonal disease cycles (e.g. post-rainfall outbreaks) and adjust sourcing accordingly.

2. Quarantine and Stock Separation

• Always quarantine new arrivals before mixing.

• Never mix fish from different sources — immunity to certain diseases is often regional or species-specific.

• Limit staff access to sensitive areas and implement zoning where feasible.

3. Trained Personnel

• Staff must be able to recognise disease, apply treatments correctly, and maintain observation logs.

• Equipment such as microscopes, dissection kits, and appropriate medications should be available.

• Larger operations may benefit from veterinary or aquaculture science expertise.

4. Husbandry and Environmental Control

• Good water quality, reduced crowding, and optimal nutrition boost immune function and reduce stress.

• Avoid prophylactic use of antibiotics — good husbandry can maintain low mortality even without them.

5. Hygiene and Disinfection

• Use disinfectant footbaths at facility entry points.

• Disinfect nets and equipment after each use — or assign them to specific tanks or zones.

• Ensure pest control is in place to prevent cross-contamination from birds, insects, or rodents.

6. Traceability and Records Matter

A robust health plan includes complete records of:

• Incoming stock and suppliers

• Mortality and morbidity trends

• Treatment logs and water quality results

This is increasingly required for export certifications and can be a decisive factor in meeting the health import standards of countries like Canada, Singapore, and the EU.

A Shared Responsibility

Improving biosecurity is not just the job of exporters or breeders. It must involve every step in the supply chain — from collectors and farmers, to wholesalers, importers, and retailers. Shared training, minimum standards, and transparent communication are vital if we are to maintain global access and confidence in the aquarium fish trade.

The stakes are high, but the rewards are clear: when properly managed, the ornamental fish industry is not only safe, but also one of the most sustainable and community-benefiting wildlife trades on the planet.

Let us work together to raise our standards, protect our trade, and ensure the long-term health of our fish — and our industry.

At OFI, we believe that local voices should inform global conversations. That’s why we’ve launched a new series of Regional Roundtables—a platform designed to give our members space to connect, share insights, and collaborate on challenges and opportunities unique to their regions.

Our first session, focused on Sri Lanka, took place online on 24 April 2025. It brought together a broad cross-section of industry leaders, exporters, breeders, and regulators for a candid, constructive exchange. The energy was positive, the discussions rich, and the feedback was positive and the format worth continuing.

Why Regional Roundtables?

The aquarium industry is as diverse as the species we care for. Each region faces different hurdles—be it regulatory shifts, freight costs, disease management, or changes in market access. These smaller, informal sessions aim to:

• Promote practical dialogue among peers;

• Share local innovations and success stories;

• Identify key issues needing global advocacy; and

• Help OFI shape policy positions with real-world input.

Rather than a top-down approach, the roundtables allow for grassroots industry engagement, enabling us to speak with one voice while staying attuned to local industry issues and realities.

Highlights from the Sri Lanka Roundtable

The Sri Lankan ornamental fish sector reported $26 million in exports in 2023, with 60% being freshwater species. While demand remains strong, participants voiced concerns about freight costs, emerging biosecurity rules, and regulatory headwinds—especially in relation to wild-caught species and CITES requirements.

Key topics discussed included:

• Freight and Tariffs: While Sri Lanka has largely avoided direct impact from recent U.S. tariffs so far, exporters are feeling pressure from US based customers to lower prices to offset any tariffs imposed by the USA. Freight rates remain a major concern.

• Wild-Caught Trade: OFI reaffirmed the need for science-based advocacy and called for better documentation of livelihoods supported by wild collection.

• Biosecurity and Disease: Concerns about Megalocytes virus led to discussion on the likelihood of stricter EU testing protocols. Participants stressed the need for capacity building in health and biosecurity.

• Capacity Building: Strong interest was shown in training on marine breeding, fish nutrition, health management, and advanced culture systems like RAS and biofloc. OFI will work with local industry to help develop suitable workshops with this.

• Membership Growth: Ideas included offering discounts to new members within local exporters supply chains and encouraging involvement from government and research sectors.

• Freight Solutions: While OFI clarified that IATA doesn’t set freight rates, we committed to explore collective negotiations and discussed possibilities for industry-wide cooperation.

Looking Ahead

This first roundtable showed the power of open dialogue. It also reinforced the need for tailored advocacy, continuous learning, and strong regional networks.

We’ll be rolling out additional regional meetings in the months ahead. Topics and formats will be shaped by member feedback, and we invite all OFI members to participate.

Whether you're a breeder in Bogor, a shipper in São Paulo, or a researcher in USA —your voice matters.

Together, let’s build a more connected, resilient global aquarium industry.

OFI acknowledges the concerns raised in Martin Sheen's documentary, "Aquariums: The Dark Hobby."

While it is crucial to address and rectify harmful practices within the trade, it's equally important to recognize the significant strides made toward sustainability and ethical responsibility in recent years. Such statements made paint a distorted picture of the relationship between humans and animals and rely on exaggerated claims, lacking the robust scientific evidence needed to support the calls for sweeping bans on human interactions with animals, fish, and birds. Their positions are rooted in an extreme animal rights ideology that dismisses sustainable and responsible human-animal interactions, including those in the pet, aquaculture and agriculture industries.

Lack of Scientific Basis

It is essential to distinguish genuine conservation efforts from ideological agendas. While conservation should indeed be guided by science, the arguments put forth by these organisations frequently rely on anecdotal evidence or misrepresented data. Peer-reviewed research and comprehensive studies on the sustainable management of animal populations are often ignored in favour of emotional rhetoric.

For example, in the aquarium fish industry, sustainable practices such as captive breeding programs reduce pressure on wild populations and contribute to species conservation. Similarly, responsible aquaculture and regulated fishing practices provide vital protein sources to communities worldwide while maintaining ecological balance.

Human-Animal Interaction Is Vital

Banning all forms of human interaction with animals would have significant social, economic, and environmental consequences. Domesticated species, from livestock to companion animals, have coexisted with humans for thousands of years. Agriculture, including dairy, eggs, and leather production, supports millions of livelihoods globally, particularly in developing regions. Pet ownership, including ornamental fishkeeping, fosters companionship, appreciation and understanding of biodiversity and often drives conservation efforts.

Certification and Standards

To promote and ensure sustainability, certification programs like the Friend of the Sea Ornamental Fish standard have been established. This standard aims to protect wild species and safeguard natural environments by endorsing responsible harvesting and farming of aquarium species.

Conservation Through Collaboration

Rather than advocating for blanket bans, a collaborative approach is essential. Industry stakeholders, scientists, and conservationists must work together to develop evidence-based policies that support both animal welfare and sustainable practices. Certification programs, traceability systems, and environmental standards ensure responsible practices across industries. The aquarium fish industry, for instance, has established successful programs that support local fishers through sustainable harvesting while protecting native ecosystems. These initiatives create economic incentives for habitat preservation and provide funding for community-led conservation efforts. The industry remains committed to continuous improvement by collaborating with conservationists, scientists, and local communities to develop and implement best practices. While challenges persist, the collective efforts of responsible industry participants aim to balance the enjoyment of ornamental fishkeeping with the imperative to protect and preserve aquatic ecosystems.

Conclusion

It is imperative that the public, policymakers, and the media critically evaluate the claims made by groups that prioritise ideology over science. The sustainable use of animals in agriculture, aquaculture, and the pet trade is not inherently harmful. On the contrary, these industries play a critical role in conservation, food security, and cultural heritage.

The industry remains committed to transparency, ethical practices, and continuous improvement. We welcome open dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure that human-animal interactions continue to be conducted responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of people, animals, and ecosystems alike.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmartin-sheen-takes-on-the-mass-slaughter-of-home-aquariums-exclusive-11702498%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3Ahn7QwRsqnJwIzL3DooYMPCYDzCs69R-iAnwEICNhuUpt0xuXNqBoyvY_aem_veDgqxFDPXHqxc2sKUrFQQ&h=AT28L76ejqIjDWaCDg7WYN7_fpBRr36Nf3Who1X1IteHcTF7t7OLXnkug65MA_Yfn07c6BnnnSCpj_Jf9sX8svCrlC1utUcViiNFhiwFzRMxUMcfl1O4AWoBVFxoxlRoJ4rjY8Gcv3aYEkuW&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c%5B0%5D=AT3zEjzAf4z5SzcrwtaNaOXl1w8f0Mffy30xISPaVUx2GTlZ0h42LdB2U90llao6snT7aWC1vcrzfG8mrc7r13BKlGBSfh2iKBeuM8YG7BJykqh-SeJ7KyeVje1yamdwZPAvZ9JbBNII2PugihQkBGhlXMcmyO_Fq_FpgWzncfsHl-PuS4dnvnEdiyiUqN_qCwKUc_ME8JFJPeBYSSO4OpP-bz0

Recently, three Malaysian men were sentenced to jail in Singapore for illegally importing corals into the country. Illegal importation of corals and aquarium fish is more than just a regulatory breach—it constitutes wildlife trafficking. This unethical trade undermines international treaties and national laws, jeopardizes ecosystems, threatens vulnerable species, and damages the reputation of our industry.

Legitimate operators within the aquarium trade invest significant effort to ensure that their practices are sustainable and lawful. However, illegal activities like these undermine the work of responsible operators who prioritize ethical and sustainable sourcing. Such actions not only endanger delicate ecosystems but also cast a shadow over the entire aquarium industry.

Industry has a responsibility to protect biodiversity and maintain the credibility of legitimate businesses, and our collective focus must remain on ethical, sustainable practices. Fringe operators that act illegally have no place in our industry.

For more information click the link below:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/five-months-jail-for-three-men-who-imported-corals-without-permits-from-malaysia

The CITES Secretariat has announced (No. 2024/041) the Technical workshop on Marine Ornamental Fishes will be held in Brisbane Australia from May 7 to 10 2024.

While it is great news that the workshop is finally going ahead, it is disappointing that these dates clash with major industry dates such as Interzoo 2024 in Germany and Regional Aquatics Workshop (Raw) being held in the USA.

OFI will be attending the workshop in Brisbane and looks forward to working with other trade organisations including Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) and the European Pet Organisation (EPO) and other IPAC members to represent the interests of the industry and ensure the workshop arrives at science based decisions. The terms of reference are quite broad including the nature of the international trade in aquarium fish, identifying species in trade, regulations and best practice management, sustainability and livelihoods benefits. This last point is of major concern for us, as the collection of marine ornamental fish provides livelihoods for people in some of the poorest nations

We will update you as more news and details of the workshop are released.

Recently the USA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a new regulation that would effectively ban imports of the Banggai Cardinalfish or BCF (Pterapogon kauderni) in the USA. The proposed regulation can be viewed here:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0099-0004

OFI is opposed to the proposed regulation as it is unlikely to have any impact on the conservation of BCF in the wild, and would negatively impact efforts by industry to develop aquacultured BCF for the international market. It would appear that NOAA has largely ignored a mountain of information demonstrating that the current trade in this species, and the current management plan for BCF, are producing positive conservation outcomes and meets several of the UN Development Goals. It also ignores the fact that the vast majority of BCF imported into the USA are in fact aquacultured and not sourced from the wild, and so do not put any pressure on the wild population.

The CITES Animals Committee has debated the listing of the BCF on several occasions. The CITES Animals Committee and the CITES Secretariat have been deeply engaged with the Indonesian government on the development and implementation of their BCF management plan; a plan which appears to be having the desired outcomes. CITES has agreed with this ultimately concluding that the management plan was robust and that the species did not require a CITES listing or further controls.

We would humbly suggest that if CITES does not deem a ban on trade to be needed for BCF, then an honest assessment of the scientific evidence available should lead NOA to the same conclusion and we would request that the proposed regulation be replaced in favor of one that protects the species by encouraging trade in sustainably raised and collected specimens.

The deadline for public comment on the proposed regulation is 5pm US Eastern Standard Time 16 October – OFI would strongly advise industry supporters to make a submission by via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at the following link:

https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0099-0004

Complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

We have received a Notification to the Parties from CITES (No.2023/116) which schedules the CITES Marine Ornamental Fishes Workshop to be held In Indonesia 5-9 February 2024. At this stage there are no other details - you can refer to the following link for the notification:

E-Notif-2023-116.pdf

OFI will be attending the workshop and working with other trade organisations to represent the aquarium industry. We will send out more details on the workshop as they come to hand.

As many of you will be aware, there have been recent changes to the import regulations in Italy, to ban the import and trade of all 'wild animals' including aquarium organisms. 

The issue of compliance to this regulation was recently flagged by AIPA, the Italian Pet industry association, and investigations indicate that a number of operators were shipping wild caught fish to Italy that were not properly identified as such, in breach of the Italian regulations. This may in part be due to the process for the import of pet and aquarium being somewhat unclear in Italy which has led to confusion amongst industry operators as to how they are to identify captive bred versus wild caught organisms – it should also be noted that public aquariums in Italy can still import wild caught species which further complicates the regulations. However, this does not rule out the possibility of operators knowingly falsifying documents to enable them to be shipped to Italy illegally.

While we are opposed to this regulation as there is no scientific basis to it, OFI does not condone any illegal activity. As an industry with international supply chains, we have the responsibility to ensure we trade only in those species that can be traded legally, and within the national and international legal requirements of the countries we are trading in. Last weekend the OFI President sent an email to all OFI members reminding them of this fact. We are pleased to say that many members contacted us after this to lend their support to our statement.

It should also be noted that many OFI and other industry members are dedicating significant resources to improving the sustainability of our industry through training of collectors, supply chain improvements, coral reef restoration and management, captive breeding programs, etc. These types of activities are to be applauded and no doubt put these operators at the forefront of the future of our industry. 

OFI believes it is vital to the future of our industry that we behave in a responsible manner and operate our businesses within the law, whether we agree with the specific laws or not. Illegal activities jeopardises the effects of our industry’s combined efforts to build a sustainable future and put at risk the whole institution of pet and ornamental fish keeping.

We have been looking at options for the 2023 OFI Annual General Meeting, and it is our pleasure to announce that we will be holding the OFI 2023 AGM during Nusatic 2023, on 14 to 16 July 2023 at the ICE Exhibition Centre Jakarta, Indonesia

Nusatic 2023 provides a great venue for our AGM as it is becoming one of the world's largest aquatic show with a growing trade exhibition showcasing local and international brands, as well as many large scale fish competitions, aquascaping demonstrations and competitions, as well as public seminars, and farm tours. 

The AGM will be held on Friday 14th July 2023 from 16:30 (09:30 GMT) to 18:30 (11:30 GMT) with a social gathering to be held at the conclusion of the AGM. The AGM will be held live and live-streamed for members that are unable to attend. The agenda and other necessary documents will be provided closer to the date.

We would like to invite all OFI members to attend, this will be a great opportunity for importers to visit one of the largest production and export country in the world and to meet with suppliers. It’s also a good base to visit with your suppliers from other countries as well! For our exporting members it is a great opportunity to meet new customers and we strongly encourage exporters from other countries to attend for this reason. The other key reason to attend is it is the first major aquatic tradeshow to be held in Asia since COVID-19 and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and industry colleagues and make plenty of new contacts.
Please note that the meeting is ‘closed’, i.e. it is reserved exclusively for OFI-members. Only the Executive Board and its chairman, our President, can give permission for non-OFI members to participate in the AGM. Please also note that only members that are up to date with their membership fee have the right to vote.

For more information on the ICE Exhibition centre click here

https://ice-indonesia.com/en/visitice/getting_here

The easiest accommodation for Nusatic is the official show hotel located adjacent to ICE for easy access.

https://www.mysantika.com/indonesia/tangerang/hotel-santika-premiere-ice-bsd-city

For reservation and special rate contact Nusatic administrators on

admnusatic@gmail.com

The EU Member States have accepted the EU authorities’ proposal – inspired from the one made jointly by OFI and EPO - to distinguish the Labridae family species by solely listing the five North Atlantic Labridae species (i.e., Centrolabrus exoletus, Centrolabrus rupestris, Labrus mixtus, Labrus bergylta and Symphodus melops) that are carriers of Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and by removing the listing of the other Labridae species.

The decision has just been released in the EU Official Journal with the updated list of aquatic diseases and group of species; enabling the imports of tropical species of Wrasse to be resumed from July 5th, 2022.

Thanks to the efforts made jointly by OFI and EPO, the Labridae family species has been taken out of this updated list which includes the latest findings on OIE activities for aquatic species.

BACKGROUND

When the ban for wrasse imports was implemented in early February 2022, OFI made several submissions to the EU authorities on behalf of our industry to have this overturned. This included our proposal to place restrictions on only known carriers of VHS within the Labridae family and to allow the trade of tropical species not associated with VHS. OFI has supported its submission through scientific evidence that VHS is a viral disease affecting Salmonid species, which represents a major concern to the aquaculture industry in Europe where five of the abovementioned North Atlantic wrasse species are used as parasite control agents in salmon farms