I used to go fishing with my dad all the time when I was younger, but it's only recently I've realised how cruel it is. I was just watching a fishing show on CH31 and they were all like, lifting the fish out of the water by their gills and the thin hooks in their lips.
One guy was like, "Look at it, I think it wants me to eat it." No you dick, it wants you to put it back in the water because it's terrified for it's life. I can't believe I used to do this I feel horrible.
Fish use their lips like we use our fingers, for picking up, inspecting and exploring. They are highly sensitive for this reason, and to think that a hook through the mouth doesn't hurt is just absurd!
Even if 60% survive, they are surviving with a horribly painful deformity which I'm sure they would prefer to live without.
I too recall a few certain fishing trips as a young kid (one which was forced upon us on school camp!). I always remember being horrified by the idea of the hook going through the fish's lips and couldn't bare to watch as it was pulled out... Back then I was led to believe that I was being childish and sentimental and that I should "grow up".
Sheesh... if only I knew then what I know now -- some 'hard facts' to back my instincts! Funny how obvious things really are sometimes that a child can easily see what we seem to need scientists to prove to us as adults...
I know what you mean - I use to go fishing too. Now I can't stand the sight of those fishing shows, it’s so cruel.
I don't know if anyone here has ever been scarred for life, where your heart beats 1000 times a second and you actually FEEL your adrenaline pumping through you, your body trying to get you to just go a little further... but that's all I can see now when I catch a glimpse of those vile fishing shows or even see a meat dish.
I wonder if in 200 years, if of course we even have a planet, if the majority of people will be just as disgusted as we are at the things the "developed world" did to animals; ripping a fish out of water with a hook in its mouth, sending chickens to be scalded alive, peeling off baby calves from their mothers, keeping dogs in cages only to be pricked with a needle daily by that thing in that white suit that makes them cringe and drool with fear.
As far as children go, I have two very young sisters. One eats all meats and is happy to do so. My parents like most, tell them it's what they should do and they HAVE to. I know that this sister is just following the heard. If my parents were vegetarian, she would be too. If they worked in a slaughterhouse... she would too. My other sister however, thanks to the news about the terrible piggeries we have here in Tasmania has vowed to never eat pigs again. She tells her older sister that she should not eat any meat... and she wishes that she were allowed to eat none at all. She is only 4 years old. My parents think it is because of me that she has decided this. However I know this is not the case as she decided this when she saw the news program on piggeries in a different city.
All we can hope to do is put light on the situation and hope that peoples ignorance will go away. We can't change them all but by changing some hopefully one day.. "following the pack" will mean not letting animals suffer and die for the greed of humans.
My other sister however, thanks to the news about the terrible piggeries we have here in Tasmania has vowed to never eat pigs again. She tells her older sister that she should not eat any meat... and she wishes that she were allowed to eat none at all. She is only 4 years old. My parents think it is because of me that she has decided this. However I know this is not the case as she decided this when she saw the news program on piggeries in a different city.
wow! it's pretty awesome that a 4-year-old can get their heads around big issues like that and then make a decision based on it. gratz to her!
Once, I saw on The Perfect Storm, about a whole load of fish that had to be dumped because they went over the limit for how many fish to catch. It was thousands of fish that had died for absolutely nothing. It was one of the saddest things I'd ever seen. Also, on Masterchef, that poor fish jumping around when one of the contestants was trying to kill it...poor little thing, it was just trying to get away. It's horrible when you realise how the fish must feel, after the way humans treat them... Depressing.
Grrrr, this can also relate to "oh your a vegetarian, do you eat fish?"
NOOO!
The way I see it: Fishing = hunting = bad
and I especially dislike people who just 'catch and release'. The amount of times I have heard "oh I put it back" annoys me tremendously. Also in some areas there is a possibility of catching endangered species... which is bad.
I'd really like to know peoples views on fishing carp, however. They are an introduced species and their rapid population and 'tough-ness' has sadly contributed to the degradation of the Murray river and the extinction of many native fish & plant species. Its actually illegal to release one if you catch it. I mean, its not their fault that they were stupidly introduced, but still.....
idk. opinions?
I'd really like to know peoples views on fishing carp, however. They are an introduced species and their rapid population and 'tough-ness' has sadly contributed to the degradation of the Murray river and the extinction of many native fish & plant species. Its actually illegal to release one if you catch it. I mean, its not their fault that they were stupidly introduced, but still.....
idk. opinions?
hmmmmmm.. tough one.
I suppose if Australia decided to open its borders completely, and the influx of people was WAY too high and so we were unable to cater for them...we couldn't really send them back.. and obviously not kill them. So.. should we apply the same principles with carp and other introduced species as we do humans? I really don't know. Tough question.
