Introduction
Sport fishing is incredibly popular. Indeed, with 44 million adherents, in the US alone, as an outdoor sport, recreational angling ranks second only to jogging. And recent statistics show that, not surprising given an increasing population, that the number of people fishing is only expanding, increasing by some 2 million people in 2022. That said, there’s a darker side to this sport. What often goes unconsidered is the cruelty that sport fishing brings to fish.
How Sport Fishing Impacts the Fish
People who sport fish interfere with the natural comfort of the animals. Fish live in water and a prolonged time outside of their natural habitat causes distress (Svobodová 57). At the physical level, their respiratory systems undergo duress when they are removed from the water. While fishing for food at least provides humans with sustenance, game fishing has no viable reason apart from recreation.
Another thing to consider is that the act of hooking a fish causes them pain and damages their bodies. It has been proven that constant catch-and-release can cause fish to lose their protective scales. The natural role of their scales is to protect them from being infected with unhealthy bacteria and diseases (Raymundo, Halfrd and Maypa 17069). Should this happen, the animals become less active and may not be able to defend themselves from other sea hunters. Moreover, analysts being ill to diseases or killed by them, destroys fish’ ability to reproduce. Due to this, fish should not be hooked until there is a permanent need to remove them from the water, which should be for sustenance.
It has been reported that over 100,000 fish die on an annual basis because the baits that are used in sport fishing are unhealthy (Lyons and Kennedy Jr. 292). In fact, sport fishers are not monitored to ensure that they use acceptable foods to entice the fish. In addition, the material that they use has a potential to affect the digestive system of the fish. The material not only disturbs their indigestion; it also manipulates the water and makes it harmful to the survival of fish.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is reasonable to fish for food but to fish for sport is unnecessarily cruel. It’s better not to fish at all. It’s better to protect these beautiful beings from manmade hooks, which can cause them to lose their scales and make them susceptible to diseases. Sport fishing is also cruel because it causes unnecessary trauma, and humans are prone to using unhealthy bait. It is evident that reducing the amount of sport fishing we do can decrease the level of suffering and habitat disturbance.
Works Cited
Lyons, William G. and Frank S. Kennedy Jr. “Effects of harvest techniques on sublegal spiny lobsters and on subsequent fishery yield.” 1981. Aqautic Commons. Web. 20 June 2017. <aquaticcommons.org>.
Raymundo, Laurie J., et al. “Functionally diverse reef-fish communities ameliorate coral disease.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106.40 (2009): 17067-17070. Print.Svobodová, Zdeňka. Water quality and fish health. Vol. 35. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1993. Print.
Other Aspects of Sport Fishing Worth Discussing
This sample shows you only a few aspects of this topic that you can discuss in your project. Remember that our writers are always ready to assist you whenever you don’t have time to finish your paper on time. Meanwhile, you can check the following ideas to explore in your assignment.
Physical harm and stress
- Injury caused by hooks and fishing gear. Describe the pain and damage caused by hooks, barbs ripping through mouths and gills, and lines constricting bodies. Mention potential internal injuries from swallowed hooks and the stress of struggling against capture.
- Catch-and-release. Discuss the limitations of catch-and-release as a humane alternative. Explore research on the high mortality rates of released fish due to stress, injury, and increased predator vulnerability.
Ethical considerations
- The question of sentience. Analyze the scientific evidence on fish pain perception and sentience. Challenge the anthropocentric view that fish don’t experience suffering like mammals.
- The issue of consent. Raise the ethical concern of inflicting pain and death on a being who cannot consent to participation in this activity.
- Conservation vs. recreation. Compare the claimed conservation benefits of sport fishing with its negative impact on fish populations and aquatic ecosystems.
Social and cultural implications
- Speciesism and the devaluation of non-human life. Analyze how sport fishing reflects underlying attitudes of human superiority and the disregard for the well-being of other animals.
- Tradition vs. changing values. Discuss the cultural heritage of fishing and its potential conflict with evolving understandings of animal welfare and environmental ethics.
- Alternatives to sport fishing. Explore sustainable and ethical ways to connect with nature and enjoy aquatic environments without harming fish.
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