Group Urges School to Ditch Fishing as a Club 'Sport'
For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
Lexington, Ky. - This morning, PETA sent a letter to Dr. Doug Whitlock, president of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), urging him to give the school fishing team, the EKU Bassmasters, the hook. In the letter, PETA points out that numerous studies show that fish are intelligent animals who feel pain just as all animals do. Fish live in groups with social hierarchies, form bonds, and cooperate with other fish, and they have impressive memories. Some can even use tools and tell time.
"Sanctioning the maiming of fish for 'sport' sends the message that violence toward others is acceptable," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "If students impaled dogs or cats in the mouth and dragged them into an environment in which the animals couldn't breathe, they would be charged with cruelty to animals."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to EKU President Dr. Doug Whitlock follows.
April 18, 2011
Dr. Doug
Whitlock
President
Eastern Kentucky University
1 page via fax
Dear Dr. Whitlock:
I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters—including thousands across Kentucky—to urge you to eliminate the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)–affiliated fishing team, the EKU Bassmasters, because of the suffering that fishing causes to animals and the dangerous message that it sends to students.
Fishing is a blood sport that causes physical and psychological suffering: Fish have particularly sensitive mouths and lips that they use in much the same way that we use our hands. Studies show that fish who are caught and thrown back into the water ("catch-and-release" fishing) often die from their injuries. As Ellen DeGeneres points out, catch-and-release fishing is like running down pedestrians with your car and then, when they get up and limp away, saying, "Off you go! That's fine. I just wanted to see if I could hit you." If cats or dogs were the victims of similar abuse, the perpetrators would be thrown in jail for cruelty to animals. A lack of understanding and knowledge about fish allows this cruelty to continue.
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that fish feel pain. The journal Fish and Fisheries cited more than 500 research papers on fish intelligence and concluded that fish are intelligent animals with 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."
The only lesson that fishing teaches students is that violence is acceptable when it is directed toward those who look different or are smaller and weaker than us. Many positive, cruelty-free club sports are available at EKU, such as paintball and ice hockey. I hope that you will make the compassionate decision to end EKU's affiliation with the needlessly violent activity of fishing. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Bruce Friedrich
Vice President