The ethics & morals of sportfishing
Sep 26, 2019 08:39:37 #
Hi there! As a backdrop to my question i want to convey my own background, I've been an sportfishing as my main hobby since i was four years old, nowadays i can usually go fish 50-100 times a year and the activity itself more resembles a lifestyle than a hobby at this point.
Also this question concerns "fishing for fun" not commercial or fishing as a food source.
All my life my uncle thaught me how to handle fish with care, never lifting fish by the hook, using knotless nets, giving large fish some time to recover before releasing, etc.
Recently I've had a hard time coming to grips with the moral and ethical issues of"fishing for fun", I've always told myself that my contributions to organizations that conserve lakes and oceans is something that in some way morally permits me to: hurt animals for fun. Unfortunately / fortunately, this is the only way i can frame the activity recently, now my question.
How do you deal with and/or come to terms with the obviously immoral act of sports fishing?
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by Fattigstudent
Also this question concerns "fishing for fun" not commercial or fishing as a food source.
All my life my uncle thaught me how to handle fish with care, never lifting fish by the hook, using knotless nets, giving large fish some time to recover before releasing, etc.
Recently I've had a hard time coming to grips with the moral and ethical issues of"fishing for fun", I've always told myself that my contributions to organizations that conserve lakes and oceans is something that in some way morally permits me to: hurt animals for fun. Unfortunately / fortunately, this is the only way i can frame the activity recently, now my question.
How do you deal with and/or come to terms with the obviously immoral act of sports fishing?
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by Fattigstudent
Sep 26, 2019 08:39:50 #
Honestly, a really good question. I pinch my barbs, and C&R everything, but that's really just a cop out to your real question.
I've thought about that too, don't really have a good answer.
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by Dex_Maddock
I've thought about that too, don't really have a good answer.
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by Dex_Maddock
Sep 26, 2019 08:39:55 #
Sep 26, 2019 08:39:59 #
Yeah using living things just for fun should not be considered at all before engaging.
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by rickrd
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by rickrd
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:05 #
I'm unsure what your stance is, i don't consider myself sensitive, i very much consider myself a realist. How do you reason yourself away from the ethical dilemma?
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by Fattigstudent
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by Fattigstudent
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:09 #
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:16 #
I think that in the beginning the term sport fishing was not about catching as much fish as possible but catch a few fishes to eat. To small and to big fish went back into the water.
What do you think about letting the chase and the catch have a higher purpose than just using fishes as a plaything? Try to just catch as much as you are going to eat and the go home and cook something nice with the fish?
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by rickrd
What do you think about letting the chase and the catch have a higher purpose than just using fishes as a plaything? Try to just catch as much as you are going to eat and the go home and cook something nice with the fish?
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by rickrd
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:20 #
A very good way to think about it, the issue for me then comes: some fish are nasty in my opinion while others are the most delicious thing. (Carp vs salmon). I live in Scandinavia i mostly fish for pearch, and pike. Pearch is delicious while pike (in my opinion) not so much.
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by Fattigstudent
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by Fattigstudent
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:24 #
I was brought up (right or wrong) always being told that fish don’t feel pain. Fish obviously respond to being hooked. They have receptors in their lips that trigger a response in their brain. However, their brains are not the same as human brains and this response is not the same as a human’s would be to a hook through the lip. I know fish “feel” something but I don’t consider it pain as I know it. Plants and animals typically have responses to stimuli. Is it immoral to swat a mosquito? To cut a plant? To use antibiotics? I think it’s a tough question though and understand if it’s something you personally struggle with.
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by verfisher
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by verfisher
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:31 #
This is a very good question actually, to me its all about mental capacity i guess, that's why i feel its more "wrong" to treat an advanced animal (cow, pig, etc) badly than a chicken for instance.
I guess the general question boils down to: where on the suffering & consciousness "scale" do you set your limits.
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by Fattigstudent
I guess the general question boils down to: where on the suffering & consciousness "scale" do you set your limits.
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by Fattigstudent
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:35 #
I'd pit chickens on the same level as cows to be honest, they're hella smart and personable.
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by rowdy-riker
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by rowdy-riker
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:43 #
Well in America at least,sport fishinog will always be an acceptable thing, tackle/lure companies, state government fish departments (who make money off license sales) and other stakeholders have our back and will always contribute to keeping sport fishing alive; it's an industry.
Catch and release, even practicing it in a minimal way without much care for the fish's health, works to keep fish alive. Going above and beyond with CnR is a respectful way to fish and you should never feel like the hobby you love is not worth some fish getting a joy ride into fresh air.
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by coalbass
Catch and release, even practicing it in a minimal way without much care for the fish's health, works to keep fish alive. Going above and beyond with CnR is a respectful way to fish and you should never feel like the hobby you love is not worth some fish getting a joy ride into fresh air.
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by coalbass
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:48 #
Ill also add that we have no responsibility to keep fish unharmed, and to treat them with care. We only do that because we want to keep them as healthy as possible to catch again. A fish's natural life is already horrifying; a hook is nothing for them
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by coalbass
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by coalbass
Sep 26, 2019 08:40:53 #
I think deliberately removing apex predators from the ecosystem, especially ones already under pressure like tuna, is not something to be proud of.
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by rowdy-riker
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by rowdy-riker
Sep 26, 2019 09:46:49 #
I fish for food, time spent with ones I Love, I would rather see my kids and Grandchildren fishing than playing video games.
And being in nature GOD made us the fish all of it I enjoy and am thankful for his work and the sacrifice of his son.
We all have opinions on all of it.
And being in nature GOD made us the fish all of it I enjoy and am thankful for his work and the sacrifice of his son.
We all have opinions on all of it.
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