For one night only, Associate Professor Culum Brown of Macquarie University and PhD student Larelle Bossi of the University of Tasmania will be giving a talk that offers a fresh perspective on fish. This should spark a change in the minds and hearts of those who come to hear it.
Culum is a leading expert on the behavioural ecology of fish and has an outstanding history of achievements and awards in his career. Culum has a special interest in fish learning and memory and he stands out in his field as the scientist to go to when discussing fish cognition and pain perception.
Larelle Bossi is currently writing a PhD thesis on the Philosophy of Fishing, at the University of Tasmania. She offers an interesting perspective into why we think about and treat fish as we do. She does this from a historical, philosophical and ethical viewpoint.
“Many people choose to believe fish feel no pain, yet it is clear they suffer much as other sentient beings do.” says Chris Simcox of Animals Tasmania, “Fish are treated in horrendous ways, whether caught ‘recreationally’, as ‘sport’, and commercially. If land-based animals were treated in this way there would be community uproar. Fish need to be recognised as sentient animals.”
The stress that fish experience when they are pulled from the water into an environment in which they cannot breathe is “exactly the same as a person drowning” A/Prof. Brown says.
“Fish deserve our respect and our consideration wherever we interact with them. There is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence to show us that fish do have the ability to feel pain and to suffer, just like all other sentient animals“. Mr Simcox concludes.
Tuesday June 30, event starts at 5.30pm
Harvard Lecture Theatre 2, Centenary Building
University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay
A/Prof. Culum Brown, Macquarie University, Larelle Bossi, University of Tasmania, Chris Simcox, Animals Tasmania
