Debate, Is fishing cruel?

Humans have long considered fish to be unintelligent creatures with little awareness and incapable of feeling pain. In most countries 'fishing' is considered to be a 'good sport' for adults as well as children. Being a commercial fisherman is thought to be a noble profession, despite that fact that commercial fishing is destroying the oceans.

What if fish were in reality intelligent creatures that not only felt pain but also had a sense of self and felt emotions? Would we still be so eager to kill and eat fish if we knew that they were not so different than us?

If a fisherman could be a fish for a day it is likely that his attitudes would change very quickly.

Science is finally starting to catch up to reality and is recognizing that fish are intelligent and sensitive creatures. Numerous studies at Universities have shown that despite their small brains fish do feel pain, are actually quite smart and do have emotional and social awareness.

Do humans have the right to destroy species and the planet?

The human consumption of fish is the greatest cause of the destruction of the oceans. If you buy fish or other sea creatures to eat you are directly responsible for the damage caused by your purchase.

There is no nutritional requirement in the human diet for sea-creatures. There is no requirement for humans to eat any animal. We can be perfectly healthy on a diet of fruits, nuts and vegetables.

I have been fishing before on many occasions, but now seeing the evidence of science and feeling a little guilty i conclude with, in my opinion, fishing is cruel. And people should find better ways to entertain them-selves without taking the life or causeing unnecessary pain to another creature.

But this is only my opinion, What do you think?

Yes suppose it is ..they are a living creature. We pull them out of the water gasping for breath. then chuck them back in with a hole in the mouth ..not very nice is it.

i know how the fish feel now, at the begining of the week i put a fishing hook through my hand (not fishing, just moving it) and because it was barbed i could not pull it out, so had to go to A&E to have it cut out, owwww!

It depends greatly on the fish whether they feel pain or not. A majority of the fish that we keep in our aquarium, do not feel pain. They have the nervous system's, complex enough to do their daily chores of eating, breathing, swimming, etc. But their nervous systems are indeed not complex enough to feel pain. But they can feel stressed, which is the main issue with fishing.

Larger fish, may very well feel pain. But I have serious doubts against the fact that they feel more emotion than being safe or in danger. But then again, I have never looked at a study that says they can, besides the marine mammal of course.

Meh, I got to get to work. In short, I think if your gonna catch a fish, fine, catch and release. The fish will be stressed for an hour or so, and then be on it's merry way. If you wanna catch it and eat it or keep it, fine, just make sure you have the license to do it.

yea poor fish, they need to be in the water breathing

I think this is a cruel picture