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Free Fish Pack!
 PETA's free fish pack is now available instantly! No more waiting by the mailbox—just hit “Print” after selecting the pack from the menu on the right.
PETA's Fish Empathy Project is based on hundreds of scientific studies that prove that fish are intelligent individuals, just like mammals. Fish have long-term memories, and they are able to learn from one another and recognize other fish. Fish gather information by “eavesdropping,” and they even use tools, which until recently was thought to be a uniquely human trait. And of course, in their ability to feel pain, fish are equal to dogs, cats, and all other animals.
For people who oppose cruelty to animals, the abuse of fish by the fishing industry (as well as by sport and recreational fishers) should be a major concern. More than 17 billion fish are killed for food in the United States alone each year, and sport and recreational fishing kill another 245 million annually. Without legal protection from cruel treatment, fish are impaled, crushed, suffocated, or cut open and gutted—all while they're still conscious. Whether they're raised on aquafarms, caught in the ocean by giant nets or “long lines,” or hooked with a fishing pole, there's no doubt about it: Eating fish supports cruelty to animals.
Eating fish is also bad for our health. All the toxins in our waterways—including mercury, lead, PCBs, and even flame-retardant chemicals—become concentrated in the flesh of fish, and humans who eat fish can suffer from health problems ranging from memory loss and poor coordination to infertility and organ damage. Plus, like the flesh of other animals, fish flesh contains excessive amounts of protein and cholesterol and has no complex carbohydrates or fiber.
We can all do our part to help fish by keeping them off our plates and fishhooks—and in the water where they belong. Please visit PETA's Web site GoVeg.com to find out how to make the easy switch to a healthy vegetarian diet.
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Fish Flakes Trading Cards
"Take a Closer Look at Fish " Leaflet
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