In her piece for The Walrus, marine biologist Laura MacDonnell tells us why she no longer eats fish:
I spend a significant amount of my time working on and under the water, and I can’t remember the last time I didn’t see some kind of plastic debris floating on the surface or stuck amongst corals or rocks.
Her observations mirror those of researchers from the University of Ghent in Belgium who found that seafood eaters ingest up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic every year.
MacDonnell also brings up fish fraud, an issue recently in the spotlight. She cites a study by Oceana that found only one out of 200 fish samples from 55 countries was accurately labeled.
MacDonnell did miss one major point though. Fish are complex creatures. They work together, recognize faces, and even have social hierarchies. In fact, a recent study by the RSPCA found that fish are social in much the same way as humans and other mammals. Dr. Penny Hawkins of the RSPCA told The Independent, “You are causing the death of an animal who is sentient, who has experiences, interests.
Fish are absolutely sentient beings. Scientists worldwide have demonstrated that fish not only feel pain but are aware of it. Fish are even similar to dogs, cats, and other animals in their experience of pleasure.
Unfortunately, the fishing industry treats these sensitive creatures as mere objects. In 2010, Mercy For Animals conducted an investigation into Catfish Corner. Hidden cameras revealed fish skinned and dismembered while conscious and feeling pain.
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