Veterinary Group Rethinks Fish Toss In Seattle
DOUG ESSER, Associated Press Writer
Posted: 7:07 pm PDT June 9, 2009
Updated: 7:11 pm PDT June 9, 2009

SEATTLE -- Seattle's famed fishmongers may be tossing rubber fish instead of real ones at a national veterinary association's convention next month following complaints from an animal-rights group.

American Veterinary Medical Association chief executive Ron DeHaven said the Schaumburg, Ill.-based organization had thought inviting one of Seattle's top tourist attractions -- the fish-throwers at the Pike Place Fish Market -- to the event would be a great "team-building experience."

But after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals raised concerns about the ethics of using dead fish as props at a veterinary event, DeHaven said the AVMA would explore other options, including an alternative PETA suggested: using rubber fish.

"If there is criticism that we're being disrespectful, we need to be sensitive to those concerns," DeHaven said Tuesday.

PETA earlier in the day urged the organization to cancel the event, saying the fish had suffered "the excruciating pain of decompression" when they were pulled from the ocean and were then suffocated, bludgeoned or cut open while still alive.

"The fish toss celebrates cruelty to marine animals," the letter said. "Surely the AVMA would not describe an event as 'fun, educational and inspiring' if the animals being tossed around were lambs, hamsters, or cats."

The sellers at the Pike Place Fish Market draw crowds when they sell a fish and heave it across a counter, where it is caught and packaged.

An assistant manager there, Justin Hall, said workers sometimes give demonstrations to groups to share their enthusiasm for their work.

"We respect fish. We respect seafood. This gives us our livelihood," he said. "We take pride in having the best."

Animal Rights Group Urges AVMA to Cancel Plans to Throw Fish During Convention

For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2009

Contact:
Lindsay Rajt 757-622-7382

Seattle-- Today, PETA sent a letter to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)--the nation's largest organization of veterinarians--urging it to cancel plans to have representatives from Pike Place Fish Market hold a fish-throwing demonstration (with audience participation) at the upcoming AVMA Convention in Seattle.

In the letter, PETA points out that fish are intelligent, sensitive animals who deserve better than to be torn from their ocean homes, only to have their corpses used as toys at a convention of veterinarians--the very people who are charged with helping and protecting animals. Numerous studies have shown that fish not only feel pain but also learn tasks, have long-term memories, use tools, and show affection. They suffer enormously when they are dragged from the sea in nets or are impaled on hooks.

PETA has offered to send convention organizers rubber fish to use in place of real fish and has posted an action alert on its Web site PETA.org urging its members and supporters--including many veterinarians--to express their concerns to the AVMA.

"It's cruel enough to eat fish, but it literally adds insult to injury to use them as toys for silly stunts," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The AVMA should be siding with animals, not with animal abusers."

PETA's letter to the American Veterinary Medical Association follows:

June 9, 2009

Dr. James O. Cook
President
American Veterinary Medical Association

Dear Dr. Cook:

Do not underestimate how many of our more than 2 million members and supporters use a veterinarian. Indeed, some of them are veterinarians. We are sorry to hear that you have not canceled your plan to have representatives from Pike Place Fish Market throw dead fish around with conference participants during the upcoming AVMA Convention. You should know that people who care about animals are appalled that a veterinary organization, whose purpose is to represent the interests of those whose jobs involve protecting the well-being of animals, would promote an event in which animals are treated so disrespectfully and are handled as if they were toys.

As we wrote earlier, there is more than enough scientific evidence to prove that fish feel pain and that they do not die well at the hands of the fishing industry. As inconvenient as it might be to face these facts, a recent edition of the journal Fish and Fisheries cited more than 500 research papers on fish intelligence proving that fish are smart, can use tools, and have impressive long-term memories and sophisticated social structures. Dr. Donald Broom, scientific advisor to the British government, has said, "The scientific literature is quite clear. Anatomically, physiologically, and biologically, the pain system in fish is virtually the same as in birds and mammals."

When the fish used in these "tosses" are pulled up from the depths of the ocean, they undergo the excruciating pain of decompression. The intense pressure often ruptures their swim bladders and damages other internal organs. Then the fish slowly suffocate or are bludgeoned to death. Others are still alive when they are cut open. The fish toss celebrates cruelty to marine animals.

Surely the AVMA would not describe an event as "fun, educational and inspiring" if the animals being tossed around were lambs, hamsters, or cats. We urge you to cancel this event--but, if you are hellbent on tossing fish, PETA will gladly pay for rubber fish to replace the real ones.

Sincerely,


Sarah King
Director

Fish Toss A Go For Veterinarians Visiting Seattle
Posted: 8:24 pm PDT June 12, 2009
Updated: 10:01 pm PDT June 12, 2009

SEATTLE -- Despite complaints from an animal-rights group, a national veterinary association says Seattle's famed fishmongers will be tossing dead fish at its Seattle convention next month.

American Veterinary Medical Association CEO Ron DeHaven says his organization will proceed with a plan to host a team-building program offered by the famous fish-throwers of Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market.

After People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals raised concerns about the ethics of using dead fish as props at a veterinary event, DeHaven said the AVMA would explore other options.

On Friday, DeHaven said his group supports the responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as food -- and feels veterinarians are the best advocates for animals.

PETA spokeswoman Lindsay Rajt (REYT) says the organization will protest "this hideous stunt."

  Fish?  Flies?  Give me a break...