Apr21
Fishing Hurts More Than Just Fish
Posted at 09:47 AM | Permalink
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Comments (5)
When I was 12, I won a fishing contest—something I haven't been proud of for a long time now. Back in the day, I was conditioned to ignore any qualms I might have felt about hooking fish, but I eventually realized how much suffering I was causing and put down my rod and reel for good.
What I've only more recently come to understand is that angling doesn't just hurt fish. Case in point: PETA staffers Hannah and Philip Schein were at Lake Kussharo in Hokkaido, Japan, when they saw a whooper swan who had a multi-pronged fishing lure embedded in her foot. She tried to remove it the only way she could—with her mouth—but the sharp hooks only became embedded in her beak as well. With her face now attached to her foot, the swan struggled in a twisted circular position, panicked and in pain:
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Tragedy was avoided in this case, but not all victims of fishing tackle are so lucky. Countless water birds and mammals suffer, and many die, from injuries caused by discarded or lost fishing hooks, monofilament line, lead weights, and floats. Animals who become entangled in fishing line can be trapped underwater and drown or die slowly of starvation. The UK has banned certain types of tackle because of this problem, and other countries need to follow its lead.
Even non-anglers can help by skipping seafood. Commercial fishing boats haul in sharks, sea turtles, birds, seals, and dolphins who get tangled in nets and hooked by long-lines only to be thrown overboard to die of shock, blood loss, or predation.
If you find yourself craving cod or salivating over salmon, just picture a plate full of snared, scared swans. Then enjoy these cruelty-free recipes instead.
Posted by Jeff Mackey
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Comments
Very good point but the funny thing is a local farm near me accutally does sell swan for consumption purposes.
So its not that farfetched for me to think that someone would eat a swan.
Either way thats horrible and I never knew that tofu could be made into fake fish so I'll give that recipe a try. :)
Posted by: Pepsi One is Fun | April 21, 2009 05:39 PM
The fishing industry is malevolent just like the beef, pork and poultry industries that are destroying the planet.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | April 21, 2009 09:17 PM
it is killing too
Posted by: loriii hernandez | April 22, 2009 05:10 AM
I thought the reason why my dad won't go fishing is because he does not like it but no, my dad said he it is cruel, i was so glad to hear that. Once you are made aware of the dangers of left behind fishing tackle and hooks, you look out for it when walking along canals and waterways.
Posted by: Jaquie | April 22, 2009 07:38 AM
A friend of mine just went to a fishing competition with her boyfriend. She told me she caught a fish on her own. I asked if she kept it or threw it back and she informed me that all the fish were thrown back.
My husband I are vegetarians. Besides the fact that I see fishing as a very boring "sport", I would never do it because I don't eat animals. I asked my husband what the point is in torturing a fish by hooking it, pulling it from it's home to suffocate, just to throw it back? My husband said "at least he lived, right?" I suppose that yes, AT LEAST, the fish got to live to see another day. BUT, I also suppose that all these people are doing is torturing an animal. Causing it shock and pain. Just because a fish doesn't scream out in pain, like a human would, when a hook goes through its lip doesn't mean it doesn't have nerve endings and a brain that understand pain.
What's the point in torturing a creature? I don't get it. I guess because they are throwing the fish back into the water that they are doing nothing wrong. Then again, most people I know eat meat because, well, they just like it too much to spare an animal from being tortured and killed.
Posted by: BRANDIE | April 22, 2009 01:14 PM