Is it true...

[ummmm]

That fish don't feel pain? Or seafish...

I was watching river cottage the other night when he was out fishing. They were catching prawns and putting them into little compartments to size them....

A live crab had some part of him torn off his back and then stabbed between the eyes...

Then they belt the fish over the head...

Just all looked a bit cruel....If livestock were treated the same way they'd be uproar.

Do they really not feel pain?

[China Doll]

I thought it had been decided that fish can feel pain after they noticed responses from fish when they stimulated pain.

Naturally I could be making that all up. I read a lot and understand a little! :c)

[ummmm]

If it is true....how can they get away with being so cruel to them.

[jno]

they could in 2003 but they may have toughened up since then

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../sci/tech/2983045.stm

[LoftyLottie]

I have read that too China. I think humans made up the fact that fish can't feel pain. I can't stand watching them struggling to breath when they are left gasping after being caught.

[ummmm]

It's when the boats catch big loads and dump them on the deck...then throw them about. Just looks cruel and painful.

[LoftyLottie]

Ummm, I love to eat fish. We eat it most days. I wish you hadn't put this question on here!! I will end up being a veggie very soon. Meat now about once a week, if that, and now I am considering fish as well ;o(

[China Doll]

Well I think a wack on the head is more humane than leaving them struggling to breath. I don't know about the crab stabbing thing though, I was talking to man hostage about it the other day and I decided that I could shoot, slice the throat (as long as I knew exactly what I was doing do didn't cause unnecesary suffering) and wack a fishes head against a boat but that I'd have issues wringing the neck or stabbing a crab like that. Luckily he had no such concerns.

To be honest it doesn't really make a jot of difference to me. I'm not going to stop eating fish of any kind because I don't like the way they're killed anymore than I'm going to go veggie because of the cute, little fluffy wuffies... I'm afraid I'm a bit to apathetic and way too carnivorous to care. That's probably quite bad to admit though... Especially in animals and nature.

Ah well....

[China Doll]

'wringing the neck of a chicken' ... crabs don't have necks.

[LoftyLottie]

You are now banished from A&N China!! We are all yoghurt knitting veggie lefties on here!!!

[ummmm]

Sorry Loftie :-(

China....If I had to kill anything myself I would be veggie. That includes fish.

I was also watching them eating raw scallops. I didn't know these things swam until I watched them trying to get away. I thought they were like star fish and just looked pretty on the ocean floor.

What a horrible way to die. Being eaten alive..!

I've cooked live mussels loads of times.....

[China Doll]

Wow... Imagine me to the right of something... Come on, I'll take ya all on! I've had meat last night and I'm feeling well 'ard this morning, lets see how you tofu lovers fair against a bit of protein! ;oP

(I'm actually quite worried I'm going to get lynched for admitting I don't really care about killing animals for food... I've never been particularly unpopular in any section... Except maybe technology on occasion).

[LoftyLottie]

If I am honest I could easily be a veggie. Meat doesn't do much for me any more. Not just for reasons of not killing animals, I'm just not that keen on it. But I do love fish and there is such a good variety to choose from.

[ummmm]

I have nothing against killing animals for food. There are still loads of countries that still do it the traditional way.

[Old Salt]

Good Morning ummmm,

I've been around salt and fresh water all my life, and as long as I can remember (starting around the time Moby Dick was a minnow), there has been this theory that "sea creatures, fish in particular, 'Don't feel pain'."

I've never understood how these people, nor could they explain in a way that convinced me, how were they so sure?

Therefore, I treat them in the same manner as I would a land creature. If they are to provide sustenance for my family, I ensure that they are humanely reared or hunted, and they are not allowed to suffer unnecessarily.

But, in answer to your question, it is my firm belief that they must be able to feel pain; any living being must suffer when wounded. My Dad and Grandfather and everyone else I grew up with, always expertly despatched land and sea creatures as quickly as possible.

Sorry to go on a bit, only excuse is I tend to ramble-on as I get 'real old', but at least I don't drool.................yet.

Old Salt

[China Doll]

Ummmm... If I had to kill things myself to eat them then I would just get on with it. Except for the stipulations about bones and crab stabbing obviously. I like meat and fish too much not to. Although I'm sure I'd throw up the first few times at least!

While never wanting to cause an animal unnecessary suffering particularly, I have no qualms about killing them for food. (I get quite annoyed with people who get more doe eyed over the suffering of an animal than they do over the suffering of another human being too but I think that's a different discussion all together).

Sigh... I'm totally not going to be allowed in A&N never again :-/

Right, I've got that Friday feeling today and I need to focus and get some damn work done. Just let me know if it's worth me popping in here later to have a look or if it's too scary for me to even bother! :c)

[jno]

I don't suppose I'd eat meat if I had to kill it... but then I don't suppose I'd eat carrots if I had to grow them. Most of us are at one or two removes from production of our food; that's just how modern life works.

[paddywak]

I grew up in the country and untill 2001, I'd shot on a regular basis from boyhood and my dad and grand-dad who trained me were most insistant that I knew how to dispatch any thing I wounded quickly and cleanly and It never bothered me eating what I'd shot. With regards to fish I always carry a "Priest" a short heavy club with which to administer the last rites to any fish I decide to keep, any under size fish or unwanted fish are returned to the water asap

[snags]

''I didn't know these things swam until I watched them trying to get away. I thought they were like star fish and just looked pretty on the ocean floor.''

Apparently cows run, chickens fly a bit and pigs are known to trot at times. You better stop chowing down on them too.

[ummmm]

You're a tough cookie China :-)

That's nice to hear Old Salt...I'm also glad you don't drool. Still time yet :-)

Paddy....what about prawns and that (I actually think they were a type of small lobster) being graded and shoved into little square things. Wouldn't that be cruel?

[ummmm]

lol snags...that reminds me. My cousin came in announcing she'd just seen a pigeon fly. When we asked her what she thought they did she replied.....I thought they walked round town all day...!!