The craze for ornamental aquarium fish has currently made Malaysia the second-largest exporter with more than 550 varieties of fish comprising 250 species bred for the local and world market.

Recognising the money to be made in aquaria, the ornamental fish trade has created a virtually unregulated industry based on the collecting and breeding of as many fish as possible with little regard for the welfare of the fish and the environment.

Treating fish as ornaments instead of live animals, breeding centres seeking new market niches produce new varieties through selective breeding. In the case of the Flower Horn fish, much crossbreeding has resulted in producing some sort of a 'mutated' fish. Lately, the genetic manipulation of fish has given rise to 'glowing fish' of various colours.

In the homes, many aquarium fish are kept under conditions of suffering and stress besides being deprived of their natural habitats. Some are neglected or left to die.

Consumers tend not to consider the darker side of the ornamental fish industry - death before reaching the shop or prematurely after purchase. Yet the mortality associated with this trade can be significant and if this causes more fish to be harvested, it is also wasteful.

Mortalities may be due to a combination of poor capture and handling, poor conditions in holding aquariums and transport, physical damage, use of sodium cyanide, inadequate husbandry practices, poor facilities and transportation, stress and the inclusion of unsuitable species.

Then there is the problem of dumping unwanted fish into the environment. The Flower Horn fish - which was once a craze once and is now no longer in demand - prompted a word of caution from the Fisheries Department when they released into the local waterways.

Non-native fish can play havoc with the habitat by killing other fish and wildlife, destroying vegetation, and passing on parasites and disease. In some cases, it is possible for them to breed with local fish and create destructive offspring.

The welfare of aquarium fish is an issue that has never been addressed yet it has become a very serious hobby and even a livelihood for the aquarium fish industry. Those in the aquarium trade should take it upon themselves to educate beginner aquarists so that they have the knowledge and tools to provide the best in fish care and in the promotion of fish welfare.

The Fisheries Department, meanwhile, should take a hard stance against companies that sell and display unhealthy and poorly kept fish. They should also insist on humane captive-rearing methods and proper handling and transportation methods.

The writer is the president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.