Go Back   Bream Master Forums > General Bream Forums > Bream Anglers Tavern

Bream Anglers Tavern Drop in here if you're just surfing with a beer in your hand. Good place to just hang out...



Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30-12-2017, 09:41 PM
Broomstick's Avatar
Broomstick Broomstick is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 517
Food for thought

In the spirit of reviving BM, I thought I'd try and spark a bit of discussion. This is a short summary of an article that was published recently about fish sentience:

https://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/2017/...ideration-too/

Basically, it states that the growing consensus in the scientific community is that fish feel pain in a similar way to humans, but fish welfare is almost non-existent. I often struggle with the ethical dilemmas associated with fishing, but my love for catching fish always outweighs my conscience. These articles make me stop and think twice though.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30-12-2017, 10:41 PM
Windknot's Avatar
Windknot Windknot is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Surf Coast Victoria
Posts: 968
It stands to reason that fish do actually feel pain. It's the mechanism that all animals have evolved and it's designed to stop them performing any activity that may be causing them physical harm.

Apparently, there are some humans who don't feel any pain at all. These people are constantly hurting themselves badly, as they don't realise the damage they're causing to themselves under certain conditions.

For me, the big question is, do fish feel pain like we do? In my opinion, they probably don't. Many fish that predate on creatures such as mussels, crab and very spiny fish, etc, must damage their mouths in the process of eating them. I've seen old bream and snapper with badly damaged lips, teeth and gums, yet they continue to feed regardless. My guess is, they don't have too many nerve ending in the vicinity of their mouths. If this is the case, the process of hooking fish probably doesn't cause them much pain at all.

Having said that, I always treat any fish I have managed to catch with the utmost respect. I rarely kill fish these days, but if I do, I make it quick and painless. I only handle them with wet hands and I don't have them out of the water any longer than is absolutely necessary. I also swim my released fish to ensure their survival.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31-12-2017, 06:07 AM
Breamtim's Avatar
Breamtim Breamtim is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: South West Vic
Posts: 680
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windknot View Post
It stands to reason that fish do actually feel pain. It's the mechanism that all animals have evolved and it's designed to stop them performing any activity that may be causing them physical harm.

Apparently, there are some humans who don't feel any pain at all. These people are constantly hurting themselves badly, as they don't realise the damage they're causing to themselves under certain conditions.

For me, the big question is, do fish feel pain like we do? In my opinion, they probably don't. Many fish that predate on creatures such as mussels, crab and very spiny fish, etc, must damage their mouths in the process of eating them. I've seen old bream and snapper with badly damaged lips, teeth and gums, yet they continue to feed regardless. My guess is, they don't have too many nerve ending in the vicinity of their mouths. If this is the case, the process of hooking fish probably doesn't cause them much pain at all.

Having said that, I always treat any fish I have managed to catch with the utmost respect. I rarely kill fish these days, but if I do, I make it quick and painless. I only handle them with wet hands and I don't have them out of the water any longer than is absolutely necessary. I also swim my released fish to ensure their survival.
+1

In addition, you'll often (maybe not often, but reasonably regularly) see fish with hooks/lures/line hanging out of their mouths, still willing to feed and take a lure.

I hate to see a big bucket (or worse, a pile on the ground) of fish just cooking in the sun, still alive. Either release them when you catch them or kill them quickly.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31-12-2017, 10:10 PM
Broomstick's Avatar
Broomstick Broomstick is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 517
Yeah I agree - bream especially don't seem to have pain receptors in their mouths. It's the stress of capture that does the damage - there are lots of published studies (mainly on sharks) linking capture with various negative physiological changes (eg: altered blood pH, changes to plasma concentrations etc). As you guys said, as responsible fisho's I think the best thing we can do is try to minimise this stress by handling fish responsibly.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31-12-2017, 10:11 PM
Broomstick's Avatar
Broomstick Broomstick is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 517
I think we should also try to implement fishing methods that are less likely to harm fish. Eg: don't fish 2lb leaders in snags. There is nothing worse than leaving lures in fish.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31-12-2017, 11:34 PM
mazman's Avatar
mazman mazman is offline
Big Bream
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 577
Quote:
Originally Posted by Broomstick View Post
I think we should also try to implement fishing methods that are less likely to harm fish. Eg: don't fish 2lb leaders in snags. There is nothing worse than leaving lures in fish.
For that reason I'm seriously considering swapping over to barbless trebles and some singles on my lures. The only reason I haven't done it yet is the cost associated with buying the number of hooks I would need.
My thoughts are that I will do less damage to mouths without a barb, decrease time spent out of water (less stuffing around getting hooks out) and if i do get busted off the lure should drop out pretty easily.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 31-12-2017, 11:53 PM
Rayman's Avatar
Rayman Rayman is offline
Blue Lip
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Brisbane, Qld
Posts: 1,072
Barbless would be a good initiative i think.
__________________
Raymond Y

All the gear, no idea
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-01-2018, 02:31 AM
mr perch's Avatar
mr perch mr perch is offline
Blue Lip
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Merino vic
Posts: 1,568
Quote:
Originally Posted by mazman View Post
For that reason I'm seriously considering swapping over to barbless trebles and some singles on my lures. The only reason I haven't done it yet is the cost associated with buying the number of hooks I would need.
My thoughts are that I will do less damage to mouths without a barb, decrease time spent out of water (less stuffing around getting hooks out) and if i do get busted off the lure should drop out pretty easily.
Just squeeze the barb with pliers .. it works well
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-01-2018, 06:28 PM
Green Hornet's Avatar
Green Hornet Green Hornet is offline
Blue Lip
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sth Coast NSW
Posts: 1,341
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr perch View Post
Just squeeze the barb with pliers .. it works well
This.....another advantage of barbless hooks is if you're using a floating lure on the odd occasion when busted off, the fish will discard your lure pretty quick and you get can get it back.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-01-2018, 05:52 PM
greggo_1's Avatar
greggo_1 greggo_1 is offline
Blue Lip
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Beaconsfield Vic.
Posts: 1,415
I've been fishing with barbless trebles for years with no noticeable negative effect.

They are so much easier to remove, especially from clothing and human body parts.
__________________
Dyslexics of the world untie.

Stihl..ms200-088 mag
Petzl..hardware
Buckingham.. harness and spurs
Fireline...ropes

PB.Hard. 46 mtr Mountain Ash
PB. Soft. 42 mtr Trifurcated Cypress
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Google