fish feeling pain

jonnied17-2008 · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:21 PM

Just reading a fly fishing book I aquired from a second hand shop, 'two fly fishermen' and came accross a wee quote, from Tom saville who had taken a BSc (Hons) in zoology and wrote a book on reservoir fishing;

'' I studied their brains and nervous systems, eyes, blood vessels, musculature, everything. Any thoughts I had about fishing being cruel to fish were quickly corrected as a result of this knowledge. It was obvious that fish did not have the ability to feel pain as we humans do. Their nervous system is very primitive - one step ahead of that of a worm, but not as advanced as that of a reptile. This was illustrated some years later when a python I kept as a pet hadn't had the sense or feeling to unwrap itself from a heater, around which it had coiled, and cooked itself to death overnight! If a snake cannot feel any pain of intense burning, there is no way a fish can feel any pain from being hooked. I fished, and still do, with a clear conscience. ''

I'm not saying this is the holy grail but its comforting stuff, something for the anti's to chew on

and for all novices and beginners in doubt to take note.

sweenytodd · #2 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:24 PM

Can of worms comes to mind here

jonnied17-2008 · #3 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:25 PM

probably right there mate

we all fish on here so hopefully it will go down well

stuartpengs · #4 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:27 PM

Uh-oh...not this one again.

sweenytodd · #5 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnied17-2008

probably right there mate

we all fish on here so hopefully it will go down well

Is a fair enough post

To be really honest I am not sure what I think or feel about this whole subject .
I have fished for 30+ years now , it is something I have always done without giving to much thought to that side of things .

Then again as I am sitting typing this it came to mind that I do whatever I can to be "nice" to the fish for want of a better way of putting it . So maybe that means that somewhere in the back of my mind I have always had a worry about the pain fish feel issue .

HHHHMMMMMMM more thought needed one that one , but whatever conclusions I come to I can't see me giving up fishing any time soon ..........................

Edit: If a worm can't feel pain why do they go mental if you chop one in half ????????

jonnied17-2008 · #6 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 08:43 PM

I dont think he was saying that worms don't feel pain, its just that it takes a lot more to hurt them, and the more 'evolved' it is the more sensitive the nervous system is. I think....