Nature & Environment

Do fish feel pain ?

By T.K. Randall
January 14, 2013 ·  95 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu Researchers now believe that fish aren't actually capable of feeling pain because they lack the brain power for it. The fish's reaction to having a hook through its mouth is said to be subconscious and not a response to pain stimuli. Unlike in humans, the 'nociceptors' in a fish simply trigger an unconscious reaction to a threat as oppose to actual physical discomfort.

"Anglers care passionately about the protection of fish stocks and do more than any other group to protect and improve freshwater and marine environments," said Anglers' Trust head Mark Lloyd. "Modern fishing tackle and techniques mean that fish which are released have an excellent survival rate and if fish are to be eaten, then angling is by far the most sustainable way of catching them."[!gad]Researchers now believe that fish aren't actually capable of feeling pain because they lack the brain power for it. The fish's reaction to having a hook through its mouth is said to be subconscious and not a response to pain stimuli. Unlike in humans, the 'nociceptors' in a fish simply trigger an unconscious reaction to a threat as oppose to actual physical discomfort.

"Anglers care passionately about the protection of fish stocks and do more than any other group to protect and improve freshwater and marine environments," said Anglers' Trust head Mark Lloyd. "Modern fishing tackle and techniques mean that fish which are released have an excellent survival rate and if fish are to be eaten, then angling is by far the most sustainable way of catching them."

Source: Telegraph | Comments (95)

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