Our Story

Fair Trade Fish has its roots in a passion for the aquarium hobby that spans many years, including a brief time working in retail aquatics. That experience revealed just how much the supply chain affects the animals in our care. Poor collection and handling practices at nearly every step of the chain of custody left an impression that never went away.

After stepping away from the hobby, a return to fishkeeping three years ago meant making the switch to freshwater fish. Getting back in also meant confronting familiar sourcing concerns. Many fish available at local fish stores are mass farmed under conditions that prioritize volume over health. Not all farmed fish are a problem, but the lack of transparency often is.

Getting involved with hobbyist breeders opened a different world. Passionate, knowledgeable people producing beautiful, healthy fish. Fair Trade Fish grew from a simple question: why not make those fish available to more people? Through online sales and swap meets, we aim to connect hobbyists with quality fish at fair prices. And for wild caught species, the story behind the fish matters just as much as the fish itself, both for the animals and the people involved in collecting them.

Our Mission

We believe the aquarium hobby should be good for the fish, good for the environment, and fair to the people who make it possible. That belief drives every decision we make, from the collectors and breeders we work with to the prices we charge. Ethical sourcing should not come at a premium.

Our Standards

Every fish we carry is sourced with care. Whenever possible we seek out hobbyist and captive bred fish raised in healthy conditions by people who stand behind what they sell. However, for some species the wild caught fish is simply the better animal. Cardinal tetras are a good example. Mass farmed versions exist often do not compare to their wild counterparts in color, hardiness, or vitality.

For wild caught species, responsible sourcing goes beyond the fish itself. Sustainable collection practices, the time of year fish are collected, and the treatment of the people throughout the supply chain all make a real difference in the quality and health of the animals that arrive in your tank. We take those factors seriously when choosing who we work with, and where possible we seek out collectors and suppliers who are involved with environmental conservation and sustainability efforts in their regions.