There are two basic transport systems for live fish - the closed system and the open system. The closed system is a sealed container in which all the requirements for survival are self-contained. The simplest of these is a sealed plastic bag partly filled with water and oxygen. The open system consists of water-filled containers in which the requirements for survival are supplied continuously from outside sources. The simplest of these is a small tank with an aerator stone.
These systems will be reviewed with respect to the problems of fish preparation for transport, types of vehicles and equipments, problems of water quality and its changes during transport, and chemical aids used during fish transport.
There is ample literature on fish transport and associated problems; however, the literary sources overlap and give partly differing interpretations of the recommended ways of transport. These are the reasons why this survey aims at comprising mainly those published results which have been fully verified in practice and which are, therefore, reliably instructive.
The basic factors and principles associated with any live fish transport systems, or influencing them, are evaluated before the actual ways of fish transport are commented on.
