Do fish feel pain??

aspeck

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Check this out from an AP story - apparently lobsters have feelings:<br /><br />CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - Joel Freedman grew upset at seeing lobsters, with rubber bands on their claws, piled atop one another in a supermarket tank. The animal-rights advocate figured it was time to make his anger known.<br /><br />Freedman bought a pound of scallops and, before anyone could intervene, lifted the tank lid and dumped them in.<br /><br />Employees at the Wegmans store in this Finger Lakes town quickly surrounded him, sparking a heated exchange, Freedman said. He refused to leave, so the police were summoned. After several more minutes of loud conversation, he exited the store on police orders not to return.<br /><br />Freedman, a member of Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate New York, argued that lobsters are inhumanely treated since they're not fed and are often crowded into supermarket tanks.<br /><br />"As far as I'm concerned, I obeyed the law by feeding the lobsters," Freedman said in Monday's Daily Messenger about his protest last week. "I should have been able to call the cops on Wegmans."<br /><br />Store manager John VanBlargan said his employees tried to explain to Freedman that putting the scallops in the tank would do more damage than good. He didn't appear to listen to arguments that he was putting "the equipment in jeopardy," VanBlargan said.<br /><br />The lobsters are placed in 42-degree water, an industrywide standard, VanBlargan told the newspaper. That puts them in a "semi-dormant state," making them less aware of their surroundings, he said.<br /><br />If Freedman is spotted at the store in the future, he could be arrested for trespassing, police warned.
 

NOSLEEP

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Seen that noodling on a sport fishing show. Way<br />to cool! Kinda like hunting moose with a hammer!<br /> :D
 

fishndvm

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

I'm a meat lover, and a fishing fanatic. I'm also a practicing veterinarian. Although I choose to release just about everything I catch, I find no fault with taking home the catch. But as to whether or not fish feel pain, I don't know. And you don't know. Speculate and experiment all you want, but unless you're a fish, you just don't know. I've seen a bunch of theories here that to me are nothing more than rationalizations to make ourselves feel better. It seems to me that the mere survival of the species would dictate that survival would be tough without some pain here and there. Acts of heroism aside, how many of you would run into a burning building? You know better way before you get near that building because your nervous system lets you know that it ain't 'gonna be fun! Why not take the high road and assume they feel pain, and do whatever seems reasonable to minimize that pain. Why would we want to torture the very creatures that are the object of all that fun we're having out there? Now I'm going for a burger.
 

Fishbusters

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Fishndvm I based my "rationalizations" on several scientific studies that were conducted on fish and thier responses. All of them pointed towards fish reacting to non-painful stimulus the same as painful ones. They even used things such as novicane and a bogagrip style attachment to hook up the fish they fought just as hard or harder not because of pain but rather the fight or flight response. Many times pain stimulus were given that caused no response but as soon as the pull of the line or some other threat was percieved they responded. In fact in one they hooked a fish and replaced it into the water where it went about it's buisness including eating just like there was no hook in it's jaw and only responded as soon as tension was added to the line. As soon as tension was released the fish settled back into a normal routine.<br />All this said I do agree with minimising stress on fish not because I hurt them with physical pain but rather so I don't overstress them causing them to perhaps die on release however I feel no qualm in killing fish to eat and would in fact prefer to condem them to storage in my livewell (a sort of prison if you think about it) and then clean them as they are still flopping as that is the best way to get fresh fish to eat. However, things that are more capeable of rational thought or perhaps show more pain response like pigs, cows and such I make sure have a clean quick death before I would ever start the cleaning/preperation process. Am I cruel to fish I don't think so I truely think/feel that they do not feel pain in the same way as otheranimals.
 

gonfishn

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Sometimes I think they do....Look at the way some of them come flying out of the water after being hooked or maybe they are just really upset.....
 

fishndvm

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Pfb, I don't at all discount any of the studies, but the interpretations of those studies are often subjective rather than objective. In any case, it doesn't make sense that these guys go through their lives pain free. It just wouldn't be good for their survival. Perhaps one of us will come back as a fish! :)
 

JGREGORY

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

I wonder if the blue fish have second thoughts before they devour their meal?<br /><br />Keep On Fishin ;)
 

mattttt25

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

i'm an avid fisherman and don't care if fish feel a thing, but i read something that made me feel a little strange-<br /><br />could all you fishermen put some cheese on a hook and cast it into your backyard, waiting for the cute little chipmunk to swallow? it would start flipping out and run up the tree, while your drag started whizzing away. as you set the hook, you yank him out of the tree and start dragging him across the yard while your neighbors watch.<br /><br />i think i'll keep to the fish and not think so much...
 

Scoop

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

I tried to convince the last northern I caught that by swallowing Mr. Perch whole, we was causing Mr. Perch pain. He did not want to listen so I had to keep him. When cleaning we found Mr. Perch 25% digested whole int he northern's stomach. Such is life. I learned that Northerns can eat a pretty big perch whole.<br /><br />At this point in time, I have so many gophers, rabbits, ground hogs, and deer that there is nothing left of the garden vegetables to eat. Maybe PETA can create an adopt a gopher program where they come to my house and each adopt a gopher, or deer to take home. They can treat it like their very own.
 

beckerdg

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

"Do fish feel pain??" - As long as it does not affect the flavor I don't think I care.<br /><br />I'm thinking if those chipmunks tasted as good as the fish, I would be out there most every day reeling them in. As it is, I let the cat take care of the rodent population.
 

NOSLEEP

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

mattt... I hooked a muskrat a few years back<br />while walleye fishing with a crank bait. I had to<br />bring the boat to the shore as he pulled my line,<br />and he made a pretty good fuss about it all. I <br />got my crankbait back after he climed on shore and<br />it came free.
 

Fishbusters

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Matt I was never good enough to make a clean kill of a squirell with a bow and quit the sport after a short time doing it. I have to admitit was fun even though some of those little beggars actually drug themselves a little while before I could dispach them. Honestly I think I could use a hook and line for chipmunks if I had them here and knew a good bait providing they taste good. I read a story about using a flyrod to catch frogs for frog legs and anole lizards for sport. I don't think I will ever go that far but then agian who knows.
 

aspeck

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

I once hooked my big brother. Biggest fight I ever had! Wouldn't let me fillet him, though, and I came away with several bruises! Of course the "hooking" was purely unintentional - I was only 12 or something like that!<br /><br />Boy does that seem like ancient history!
 

rwise

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

MMMMmmmmMMM, Taassttyy criters! I feel pain to, hunger pain, I luv meat! Thats life get over it. I don't think a lion would think twice about eat you or me. MMMMMmmmmMMMM lion burgers,,,,<br />Richard
 

Lexington

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

Several studies have concluded that if we don't hunt or fish and thin the wildlife populations then the game will die of stavation and diseases after a few short years (remember the ban on white tail deer hunting in NJ?). By fishing and hunting we our ensuring the survival of the game species. Due to the lack of natural predators we have to provide the checks and balances to keep nature in check.
 

oddjob

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

The "everglades" garr is the only fish I know of that actually feels pain...everytime I'm forced to catch one. Serves them right for playing with someone elses food. I always release them afterwards so they can tell their friends as to prevent any unnecessary pain in the future.
 

gaugeguy

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Re: Do fish feel pain??

They can scream bloody murder for all I care, I'm still gonna catch em and keep a few for the table.
 
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