Thus the fish are dumped from the bags in to a bucket with up to 30 fish at once. The fish are then transferred abruptly into bags filled with new water from the shoreline. Depending on the species, they are bagged individually if they are expensive, or by pairs in smaller bags, or several in larger bags. The bagged fish remain on the floor or on wooden structures usually 3-5 days before they are shipped. During this time, water is changed once a day.
Expensive species get two water changes a day.
The water changes are always abrupt. Small inexpensive fish do not get water changes for 3-5 days. It is common to see fish dying from ammonia poisoning in the bags. The fish are shipped to the exporter in Manila by bus, where they are first inspected for damaged fins, injuries or sickness. The rejects are either sold on the local market or discarded and very seldom returned to the sea.