A Part of Human Nature

Through the questions posed in Q&A 11, the class has found several interesting facts pertaining to the intelligence and sentience of fish:
1. Fish have an intellectual ability comparable to dogs and perhaps learn faster than dogs.
2. Fish have a sentience level comparable to "higher level" vertebrates.
3. Fish have similar abilities to feel as amphibians and mammals, including humans.

Yet, we continue to harvest these animals and let them die through suffocation. We treat these beings as if they are brainless and feelingless like a vegetable being harvested from a field. Just because these animals do not have the ability to scream does not mean they do not suffer while suffocating on the deck of a ship. I think that this practice will continue and has continued for so long because it does not affect humans. As seen through various other environmental oddities that occur because of human influence, such as global warming and extinction of species, people will not change unless it affects their lives. Like the implementation of any change, people must be informed that these animals have these abilities and, therefore, deserve to be treated as if they have these rights. However, there is hope with the continued message from environmentalists and through government action, overfishing will not be tolerated and must cease. Yet this is just the beginning of the fight to have these beings be recognized and be given some moral status. I don't think that it will occur in the near future because of the ignorance of some many, but over time it has a chance with continued research and education.