Abstract: Surgical implantation is generally accepted as the preferred attachment method for long-term fish telemetry study, but the negative effects of this surgical implantation on fish should not be ignored. The key for the successful fish telemetry study is that the existence and attachment of the transmitters in the experimental fish would not have negative effects on the normal fish physiology or behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the potential negative effects of surgical implantation of  transmitter on experimental fish prior to telemetry monitoring. This paper reviewed the overseas research progress in the effects of  surgical implantation of transmitter on fish, and discussed the possible negative effects and affecting degrees of transmitters, surgical procedure, environmental factors, and anthropogenic factors in the process of transmitter’s surgical implantation in fish. Some suggestions were put forward to reduce the potential negative effects, and the research directions of  surgically implanted transmitters in fish in China were prospected.