Food for thought

[sharpiel]

https://thewest.com.au/news/fishing/i-quit-fishing-after-an-encounter-off-perth-made-me-realise-i-was-an-arsehole-ng-b88355189z

Worth a read for an independent (not just mine) perspective...

[el_draco]

Yeah, it puts a completely different perspective on the "hobby" side of it when you read this. I went largely vegetarian over a decade ago after being a big meat eater, once I saw what we did to the animals involved using "best practice" animal husbandry. :(

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would transition but I found the new regime really easy after a few days, and a lot cheaper. The thought of eating red meat now makes me physically nauseous... go figure. :rolleyes:

I admire his decision to speak out.

[AussieTrooper]

Interesting article. I've never really understood 'catch and release' fishing. The survival rate has never been proven, and if the statistic of 'survival rate' even comes into it, you should really think about what you are doing.
That said, I go fishing sometimes. I fish for food. The fish on my line is no different to the one being chased by a shark, another fish, or whatever.
Food of all forms necessarily does damage to something. Those vegetables you eat came from land that was once a forest. That beef you eat comes from an animal raised purely to be killed for food.
If anything, commercial fishing is far worse than recreational. Instead of a fish being quickly dispatched, it slowly suffocates.
Contrary to what was written, fish can breath air. Just not very well. Many fish will survive for hours, dying slowly.

[LewisM]

I went fishing over Christmas - just one afternoon, in a river way out west. I had not been fishing for maybe 30 years.

We caught a lot of silver perch and one jewfish. The hooks were RARELY caught in the perch mouths - more often than not it was through their eye or their stomach (obviously "caught" them when they were darting away from the bait).

Oddly, the perch didn't seem to bother me, but when it came time to kill the jewfish, it struck home. Had to use a machete to behead the fish, upon which I was sprayed with blood like a murderer (which I felt like!). Blood driping down the machete and sprayed all over my clothes. Then nailing the tail to a fence post before pulling the skin off with pliers...which I let my father do. I felt psychologically depressed and remorseful and from then on I vowed to NEVER fish again - very similar to the article Les linked to.

I couldn't eat it when it was served.

It didn't turn me vegan, but I vowed never to harm an animal in any way again. Unfortunately, I don't have the fortitude to stop others killing for my degustation, but perhaps that may change.