The Cruelty of Catch-and-Release Fishing
A Fish Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
May 2015

[NOTE from All-Creatures.org: For more about fish, visit FishFeel.org.]

Fish have nerves, just like cats, dogs, and even you! And this means that fish can feel pain. Hooked fish endure not only physical pain, but also terror. When they’re removed from their natural environment, they’re no longer able to breathe. Just imagine that horrible feeling you’d experience if you were underwater, unable to get enough air.

Imagine that you’re a fish, darting around your watery home and finding tasty snacks to enjoy. Now, imagine that you bite into one of those snacks and suddenly feel searing pain as a sharp hook rips through your mouth. You fight against it, but the painful hook is pulling you up toward the surface of the water. You struggle until every last ounce of your strength is gone. You’re then hoisted into the air, away from the safety of the deep water, and that’s when you begin to suffocate.

Watch this video of Joaquin Phoenix "drowning"...

This is why fishing is NOT harmless family fun. Fish have nerves, just like cats, dogs, and even you! And this means that fish can feel pain. Hooked fish endure not only physical pain, but also terror. When they’re removed from their natural environment, they’re no longer able to breathe. Just imagine that horrible feeling you’d experience if you were underwater, unable to get enough air. It’s the same for them on land! Once out of the water, fishes’ gills often collapse and their swim bladders can even RUPTURE because of the sudden change in pressure.

Fish Head | Dawn Endico | CC BY 2.0

When fish are grabbed and handled by humans, the protective coating on their bodies is disturbed. This makes fish more vulnerable to predators when they’re thrown back into the water.

sw_wa_fishing 063 | JSeattle | CC BY 2.0

Sometimes fish end up swallowing hooks, and anglers often try to retrieve them by shoving their fingers (or even a pair of pliers!) down the fish’s throat. This tactic rips out not only the hook but also part of the fish’s throat and guts as well. Studies show that many fish who are caught and thrown back into the water suffer such severe psychological distress that they actually die of shock.

Caught a fish. | BuzzFarmers | CC BY 2.0

Fishing doesn’t only hurt fish. Millions of birds, turtles, and other animals sustain debilitating injuries after they swallow hooks or become entangled in fishing lines. Wildlife rehabilitators say that discarded fishing tackle is one of the greatest threats to aquatic animals.

Why torture animals for “fun” when there are so many other wonderful outdoor activities? Please encourage every angler you know to try hiking, canoeing, or camping instead of catch-and-release fishing.

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