The Live fish trade is a high-margin trade, currently estimated at around $1billion annually, and largely focusing on reef fish. The key market is centred on Hon Kong, and South-West China.
With high-end fish fetching well over $100/kg, (http://www.traffic.org/home/2007/2/2/hong-kong-authorities-called-upon-to-address-illegal-fish-tr.html), fish such as the Hophead Wrasse and other tropical fish are a premium product. At the same time, high prices and demand is driving illegal fishing activity - though apparently, live fish market are slowly switching to farmed produce (http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/lrf/8/LRF8-03-Chan.htm).
I’ve see Australia listed as a significant supplier, but I can’t find huge amounts of detail. Does anyone have any more information about the current state of live fish trade in Australia (tropical or not) to supply the HK and South-Ease Asian market?
http://www.livefoodfishtrade.org/aquaculture/index.htm
http://www.upto11.net/generic_wiki.php?q=live_food_fish_trade
http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/lrf/8/LRF8-03-Chan.htm