Although it was not the intent of my original question a now retired friend who was in the ornamental fish trade for decades always told me he figured the survival rate of fish to retail purchase was about 5%. If you think about the various steps in the supply chain, and apply reasonable loss rates, that seems about right to me. Add in survival to 1 year and it's something less than 5%. I did not ask the question pejoratively, rather to get a sense of people's experiences.
I also make no judgment, after all I'm part of the 'problem'. As I and others have pointed out, the survival rate of fish collected for food is zero; and left in the ocean the median survival of an individual may well be comparable to those collected.
I also make no judgment, after all I'm part of the 'problem'. As I and others have pointed out, the survival rate of fish collected for food is zero; and left in the ocean the median survival of an individual may well be comparable to those collected.