Imagine reaching for an apple on a tree and having your hand suddenly impaled by a metal hook that drags you— the whole weight of your body pulling on that one hand—out of the air and into an atmosphere in which you cannot breathe. This is what fish—who have well-developed pain receptors —experience when they are hooked for “sport.” Fish Feel Pain While fish cannot always express pain and suffering in ways that humans can easily recognize, common sense (as well as marine biologists) tells us that fish feel pain. Fish may not be cute and cuddly like puppies and kittens, but they suffer and experience pain in very much the same way. Fish suffer from being impaled, thrown, crushed, or mutilated while alive, and they are often left to die slowly and painfully of suffocation. (continued) Fishing Hurts Other Animals Countless birds and other animals suffer, and many die, from injuries caused by swallowing or becoming entangled in discarded fishing hooks, monofilament line, and lead weights. Many wildlife rehabilitators say that fishing litter is one of the single greatest causes of injuries to aquatic animals. (continued) Fish Are Fascinating Animals Though they may seem very different from us, fish are actually communicative and sensitive animals. Without the aid of sophisticated equipment, however, humans can easily overlook the complexity of these underwater animals. (continued) Eating Fish is Dangerous Like the flesh of other animals, fish flesh contains excessive amounts of protein, fat, and cholesterol. Fish (and shellfish) can accumulate extremely high levels of toxins (as much as 9 million times that of the water in which they live) such as PCB's, dioxins, mercury, lead, and arsenic, which can cause health problems ranging from kidney damage and impaired mental development to cancer and even death. Fish oil capsules may also contain harmful contaminants. Omega-3, thought to be helpful in fighting heart disease, can be found in flax and linseed oils and leafy, green vegetables. (continued)