What paradoxical description is applied to the Asian Arowana population due to protective bans and commercial aquaculture?

A "mass-produced endangered species"

The high desirability and subsequent depletion of wild Asian Arowanas in their native ranges, particularly for Super Red and Malaysian Golden varieties, led to the imposition of international trade bans designed to protect them. However, this scarcity simultaneously escalated market demand, creating an unusual economic situation. The solution adopted by the industry was intensive commercial aquaculture, or farming. This mass production to satisfy the demand means that while the wild populations remain critically threatened or endangered, the species as a whole is being bred in huge quantities under controlled, high-security farm environments. This dynamic creates the contradiction described by the term 'mass-produced endangered species,' highlighting a complex modern conservation challenge.