Anglers carp at 'fish pain' theory

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Anglers carp at 'fish pain' theory

 

EDINBURGH, Scotland --Anglers and animal rights activists were further apart

than ever on Wednesday after scientists said they had proved for the first time

that fish feel pain.

 

The study on rainbow trout by scientists in Scotland found evidence, researchers

said, that fish have feelings, including stress and pain.

 

But the main angling group in Britain cast doubt on the research, saying that

the findings contradicted previous studies.

 

The Royal Society published on Wednesday the latest findings of experiments on

bees stinging trout lips, which caused some of the fish to display a " rocking "

motion, according to the Press Association.

 

The study at Edinburgh University and the Roslin Institute in the Scottish

capital concludes that fish have nervous system receptors, or " polymodal

nociceptors, " in their heads that respond to damaging stimuli.

 

The ones in trout were the first to be found in fish and have similar properties

to those found in amphibians, birds and mammals including humans, PA said.

 

Dr. Lynne Sneddon, who led the study, told PA: " Our research demonstrates

nociception and suggests that noxious stimulation in the rainbow trout has

adverse behavioral and physiological effects. This fulfils the criteria for

animal pain. "

 

Animal rights organization PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,

which is opposed to all angling, welcomed the study but said fish should not

suffer to prove something obvious.

 

Dawn Carr, director of PETA (Europe), told PA: " It is unfortunate that these

animals were made to suffer for this study, because we've been saying for years

that of course fish can suffer and feel pain, just as all animals do.

 

" However we hope that when people see these results, they will think twice about

going angling. Marine biologists and common sense tell us that if you trick a

small animal into impaling his or herself in the mouth, that animal is

suffering.

 

" It's shocking that people will still go fishing for fun. We argue that for

every cruel thing people do, there is a compassionate alternative. "

 

The National Angling Alliance (NAA), which represents one million anglers in the

UK, described the conclusions as " surprising. "

 

A spokesman said: " These findings are in direct contrast to the recent work of

Professor James D. Rose of the University of Wyoming, who stated in the Reviews

of Fisheries Science that fish do not possess the necessary and specific regions

of the brain -- the neocortex -- to enable them to feel pain or, indeed, fear. "

 

Dr. Bruno Broughton, a fish biologist and scientific adviser to the NAA, added:

" I doubt that it will come as much of a shock to anglers to learn that fish have

sensory cells around their mouths. Nor is it a surprise that, when their lips

are injected with poisons, fish respond and behave abnormally.

 

" However, it is an entirely different matter to draw conclusions about the

ability of fish to feel pain, a psychological experience for which they --

literally -- do not have the brains. "

 

 

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How could pain be considered as a theory?

Following the article there is a vote: Would you stop eating fish if you knew

they felt pain?

 

Here are the last results...

 

Yes 14% 3573 votes

No 86% 22027 votes

Total: 25600 votes

 

 

Too sad... i don't understand how people can be that way...

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