The global conversation around the aquarium fish trade often circles back to one issue: the role of “wildlife.” Some critics, particularly animal rights groups, argue that all wildlife trade should be banned. But this argument is usually built on narrow and misleading definitions of what “wild” actually means. In truth, the picture is much more nuanced. Many aquarium species are far removed from the wild, and for those that are collected in nature, the practices are often low-impact, sustainable, and vital for local livelihoods.

Bangai Cardinalfish are still collected in low numbers from the wild with demand supplemented by farmed fish

Domestication as a Gradient, Not a Binary

French researcher Fabrice Teletchea proposed a helpful framework to understand domestication in fish. Instead of thinking in absolutes — wild or domesticated — he described a gradient of domestication:

• Level 0: Wild-caught, no captive cycle.
• Level 1–2: Early acclimatisation or capture-based aquaculture, part of the cycle in captivity.
• Level 3–4: Full life cycle in captivity, but still close to wild form.
• Level 5: Fully domesticated, selectively bred under human control.

When we look at the top aquarium fish species, many freshwater fish (like guppies, goldfish, and bettas) are already at Level 5, bred for countless generations, displaying colours, forms, and behaviours that don’t exist in nature. Marine species, by contrast, often remain at Level 0–3, with many still sourced from the wild due to the complexity of breeding them in captivity. This framework reminds us that domestication is a process, not an event. As soon as a fish is kept in captivity, selective pressures begin to shape it and over generations, these changes accumulate, producing animals that are no longer truly “wild.”

The Role of Wild Collection

That said, wild collection still plays an important role in our industry and it’s not inherently harmful. In fact, when managed responsibly, collection of aquarium fish is:

• Artisanal in nature: Aquarium fish are collected using small-scale, low-impact methods like hand nets and barrier nets. The fishing pressures are a fraction of those seen in food fisheries and accounting for just a small fraction of what is harvested from our oceans and aquatic systems.
• Livelihood-supporting: In places like the Amazon, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, aquarium fisheries provide income for families in areas where there are few alternatives. This income often helps communities meet basic needs such as schooling, healthcare, and housing.
• A conservation incentive: When local people benefit from keeping rivers, reefs, and forests healthy, they have a reason to protect them. Well-managed ornamental fisheries can reduce destructive alternatives like logging or mining with Project Piaba in Brazil being a great example.

Domestication and Wild Collection: Complementary, Not Opposed

It’s important to see domestication and wild collection as coexisting strategies, not competitors. Its estimated that around 90% of freshwater aquarium sold are now farmed, as many species have been farmed over many decades and are selectively bred many would be considered domesticated and these domesticated species provide scale, resilience, and accessibility for our supply chain. Whereas wild-caught species bring diversity, cultural value, and livelihoods to some of the poorest nations across the developing world.

Together, they create a balanced supply chain that supports both the global aquarium trade and the people and ecosystems behind it. It should also be noted that both wild collected and farmed/domesticated specimens of the same species can be available within the supply chain at the same time. A great example is Clownfish, which are still collected in source countries within the Asia-pacific region but with ‘designer clownfish’ some being farmed in their thousand’s around the world

Policy and Perception

Calls for blanket bans on the aquarium trade ignore these realities. The truth is many species are already fully domesticated and should not be lumped into “wildlife trade” debates. The other important issue is that where wild collection continues, it is often sustainable, ethical, and beneficial to people and nature.

What’s needed are smart, targeted policies that:

• Recognise and reward sustainable practices.
• Differentiate between destructive wildlife exploitation and low-impact, community-based ornamental fisheries.
• Support the continued domestication of new species, alongside the responsible management of wild ones.

Conclusion

Domestication in aquarium fish is a spectrum, and wild collection can be a sustainable livelihood. Together, they make our industry unique: low impact, high value, and delivering real benefits for people, conservation, and education. It’s time we move beyond simplistic labels of “wild” and “domesticated” and embrace the nuanced reality that truly defines our trade.