Beyond the Glass: The Truth About the Aquarium Fish Trade

Last night I watched the documentary Aquariums: The Dark Hobby, and was deeply saddened by what I learned. What many see as peaceful displays of color and life often come at a devastating cost to the fish and the fragile ocean ecosystems. This documentary opened my eyes to the suffering hidden behind the glass and reminded me how easily we can overlook the lives of beings who seem so different from us. In this post, I want to share what I learned, how it made me feel, and why awareness is such a powerful first step toward change.

What I Learned

• Many fish in the aquarium trade are taken from the corral reefs in certain parts of Hawaii. These fish are part of a delicate ecosystem within the reefs. Taking them away in large quantities leads to the deterioration of the reef and impacts the environment. Native Hawaiian leaders and activists have been working together to fight for legislation to protect the fish. These bills end up not getting approved or upheld.

  
  

• The treatment of fish when caught or traumatic and painful. They get caught in nets which is a scary experience for them. Sometimes it can lead to injury. They can also be punctured by hypodermic needles and have their fins cut. When shipping the fish they are starved, because if they are fed they could go to the bathroom in their bag or container. This could lead to illness and death.

  
  

• Some aquarium collectors in other countries use cyanide to capture fish. The ones that survive the poison are kept and the ones that don't are tossed back in the water. This also poisons the reef and leads to it dying out. In some cases other countries use dynamite on the reefs to stun fish.

  
  

• Fish can talk and sing to each other. In the documentary, they shared these sounds. Fish have minds, experiences, emotions, and social lives. Several studies have shown that fish can retain information for years. There is a book that talks more about this called "What A Fish Knows: The Inner Lives Of Our Underwater Cousins" by Jonathan Balcombe.

How I Felt

I knew that aquarium fish were exploited, but didn't realize to what extent. It saddens me so much by how humans think animals are less than, because they do not communicate or behave like humans. They all have their own way of being and communicating. Mammals, insects, fish, birds, and so on all have their own little societies. Their lives are meaningful to them. I wish the rest of the world could understand and respect that.

You can watch the trailer here.

Here is the trailer for Aquariums: The Dark Hobby. What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments.

---

Jennifer Shlomovich is a recovering people-pleaser turned confidence coach. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. Now, she helps busy women simplify plant-based living so they can improve their health, save time, and feel supported—even if their family isn’t on board. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast—where they help you start your day the vegan way, live every Monday at 7 AM ET on YouTube.