That is a very inaccurate statement. They're much hardier in transportation than crappie or trout. I've raised, moved and transported tens of thousands and they do just fine as long as you keep the oxygen levels adequate and keep the water temps between 60 and 70 degrees F. Like any fish, if you over handle them, or deprive them of oxygen they will die, but the statement that "if you touch them they will die" is an exaggeration.
I even brought one thousand 5.5-6 inchers back on a 13 hour drive from south of Little Rock, AR without losing a single fish. Amazing what pure O2 will do. These fish started out with good handling procedure in Arkansas. If they are kept at the hatchery in super high densities and seined into a massive ball of writhing fish, that are spining each other with their dorsal fins then you've got another story.
