Do fish Feel pain?
Do Fish Feel Pain? V.Braithwaite. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 2010 194pp. £14.99 (Hardback) ISBN 0199551200. Reviewed by JF Turnbull
This book is a presentation of a complex area in a simple style; it is not a detailed scientific review. It is suitable for most people with an interest in the subject, requiring little if any background expertise. Braithwaite clearly explains not only the results of scientific experiments but also the scientific process. Although she has an ethical stance regarding pain and suffering in fish, she presents rigorously impartial evidence and clearly explains the moral and ethical implications of this work. She does not criticise angling, ornamental fish keeping or other practices but identifies some of the moral and ethical implications of recent scientific research for these activities.
The book is divided into 7 chapters with a concluding bibliography. It has a very logical structure, which leads the reader through some complex ideas. It starts with a chapter setting out the background of the subject. It progresses through two chapters examining the nature of pain and experimental evidence relating to pain in fish. The following chapter examines the issues of consciousness, sentience and feelings as they relate to fish. Building on the previous evidence chapter 5 examines attitudes to fish welfare through comparisons with other animals. The penultimate chapter asks why we have not previously considered issues of fish welfare and why we should examine them now. The final chapter examines the implications of the work for human interactions with fish. I found the book easy, enjoyable and interesting to read. Most of my potential criticisms are minor and the result of text that is scientifically accurate and yet widely accessible. For example, I suspect that some of the detail of the scientific process may be too detailed for some readers and some explanations of simple concepts may be too long for others. There are only two areas where I would take issue. The description of the marine ornamental trade is overly critical and does not reflect much current practice, and salmon culture is only a very recent and relatively small aspect of aquaculture. Otherwise I applaud the clear, accurate and entertaining text.
Pain perception, suffering and welfare in fish are issues that stimulate heated debate especially among those with entrenched stances. Unfortunately such areas are difficult to debate rationally since they involve scientific and philosophical arguments often confused by emotional responses. Even honest attempts to present scientific evidence can result in moral and ethical criticism (see Huntingford et al. Journal of Fish Biology, 2006, 68, 332-372; Fish and Fisheries, 2007, 8, 277-280 and Arlinghaus et al. Fish and Fisheries, 2007, 8, 57-71).
Many believe that it would have been best if no one had raised the issues or conducted the experiments, “Asking the question might take us places we don’t want to go.” I have avoided clichés relating to boxes, bottles or cans but the issue of pain and suffering in fish is obviously a topic that will cause a lot of problems and will not go away. A popular angling magazine in the UK “Trout Fisherman”, demonstrated the type of response this book may receive in some quarters. The magazine first published a disparaging editorial, expressing amazement at the audacity of the publishers in asking the magazine’s features editor to review “Do Fish Feel Pain”. The arguments surrounding this issue of pain perception in fish were compared with religious debate and sectarian bigotry. It was claimed that many anglers would be entirely negative or disinterested. Eventually it transpired that the author of this editorial had in fact not even read the book and most of his criticisms were based on the assumption that it was anti-angling propaganda. Subsequently, the same magazine wrote a brief but highly complimentary review leading with the opinion that “every angler needs to read this book”.
Many people who catch or take care of fish already make considerable efforts to reduce stress and potential suffering. However, the work described in this book demonstrates that there are still complex issues to address. In many cases we still do not have either the scientific evidence or the ethical framework to reach any conclusions. Perhaps partly as a result, there are dramatically different approaches to the welfare of fish even within Europe.
This book describes the science and the resultant problems rather than providing solutions. It would be unlikely to stop anglers from catching fish but it might well make those who would treat fish as inanimate objects take a little more care. To use an example from the book, they might think twice before switching on the blender containing live fish.
James F Turnbull BVM&S, MSc, PHD, MRCVS
Professor of Aquatic Population Health and Welfare
Institute of Aquaculture
University of Stirling
Stirling, Scotland, UK
FK9 4LA
Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467913
Email: jft1 at stir dot ac dot uk
Arlinghaus, R., Cooke, S.J., Schwab, A. and Cowx, I.G. (2007) Fish welfare: a challenge to the feelings-based approach, with implications for recreational fishing. Fish and Fisheries 8, 57-71.
Huntingford, F.A., Adams, C.E., Braithwaite, V.A., Kadri, S., Pottinger, T.G., Sandoe, P. and Turnbull, J.F. (2006) Current issues in fish welfare. Journal of Fish Biology 68, 332-372.
Huntingford, F., Adams, C., Braithwaite, V.A., Kadri, S., Pottinger, T. G., Sandoe, P. & Turnbull, J. F. (2007) The implications of a feelings-based approach to fish welfare: a reply to Arlinghaus et al. Fish and Fisheries. 8, 277-280