National Seafood Week: PETA Supporters Take Action for Sea Animals
To denounce National Seafood Week and give people food for thought about eating aquatic animals, a group of PETA supporters dressed in fish and lobster costumes – and draped in fishing nets – protested in the middle of London’s Leicester Square today.
The protesters, who “gasped for breath”, were surrounded by other trapped “sea animals” – whom the fishing industry callously terms “by-catch” – and signs proclaiming, “Sea Life, Not Seafood”.
What’s Wrong With Fishing?
Every year, humans drag billions of fish out of the ocean in painful, frightening, and gruesome ways.
Even though fish and other sea animals are capable of feeling pain and suffering, they’re usually killed with absolutely no regard for their welfare. When pulled from the ocean’s depths, fish undergo excruciating decompression – the internal pressure causes their swim bladders to rupture, pops their eyes out of their heads, and pushes their stomachs out through their mouths. Many slowly suffocate on fishing vessels, while others are still alive and thrashing when they’re slit open.
Researchers have found that fish recognise each other and gather information by eavesdropping. They’re capable of remembering past social interactions that they’ve had with other fish, and they show affection by rubbing against one another. At the hands of the fishing industry, they’re denied a chance at life and instead subjected to a living hell.
Crustaceans also feel pain and suffer when they’re mutilated and boiled alive after being taken from their ocean homes.
“Non-target” marine animals don’t have it any easier. An estimated 300,000 cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are killed every year as “by-catch” after becoming entangled in fishing nets, while turtles, seals, birds, and non-target fish – some of which are protected species – also die of injuries caused by nets and other tackle.
What You Can Do
To take action to protect our oceans, order our free vegan starter kit, which is packed full of recipes, tips, and advice, including information on plant-based nutrition and ideas for quick, tasty vegan meals.
You can also check out our guide to the vegan fish products available in the UK that will give you that “fishy” taste without harming any animals. Win-win!
