‘The Little Mermaid’ Returns—How YOU Can Help Real Animals Like Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle
The long-hyped live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid premieres on May 26, and PETA is psyched to sea some ocean-dwelling animals making a splash on screen in computer-generated imagery.
In light of this live-action remake, PETA is reminding everyone to show respect to fish, crabs, gulls, and other wildlife. We’re also running our “Go Vegan” PSA starring a mermaid tail–clad Daniella Monet in Anaheim and Orange, California, theaters from May 15 to June 11.
Here’s what happens to real animals like Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle and how you can help them:
Fish Like Flounder Aren’t ‘Pets’
The song “Under the Sea” says it all: “The fish on the land ain’t happy. They sad ’cause they in their bowl.” You wouldn’t want to see Flounder abducted from his home and confined to a tiny tank—so don’t support the pet trade.
Fishers snatch saltwater fish from their ocean homes and sell them to pet shops like Petco, which treat fish and other animals like inanimate merchandise. They end up confined to small tanks, where they’re deprived of the opportunity to engage in natural behavior and are often denied even the basic necessities of life. These sensitive, social beings aren’t commodities—they have lives and interests of their own.
Crabs Like Sebastian Don’t Belong on Your Plate
Much like Sebastian, real crabs are intelligent and learn from their mistakes. In the U.S. alone, the fishing industry kills tens of millions of crabs every year. Fishers often pull them from their ocean homes by dragging huge nets along the seafloor—which destroys entire ecosystems.
Crabs can feel pain, and they suffer immensely when they’re killed for food by being thrown into pots of scalding-hot water or steamed alive. They struggle so desperately to escape an excruciating death that their claws often break off.
No crustacean or any other animal belongs on your plate. Eat with compassion like The Little Mermaid’s lead actor, Halle Bailey, who’s a proud vegan.
Respect Shore-Dwelling Wildlife Like Scuttle
Gulls are intelligent, sensitive birds who just want to feed themselves, find a safe place to live, and protect their young. Like Scuttle, they’re resourceful problem-solvers.
They face numerous hazards created by humans—they can become injured in collisions with buildings or traffic, get their beaks caught in fishing hooks, choke on pieces of plastic left on beaches, or get sick when they’re fed food scraps by beachgoers. Show respect to gulls by leaving them in peace, and call your local animal control service if you see one who’s injured or in danger.
Help PETA Protect Our Fellow Animals Under the Sea
PETA’s work helps suffering marine animals, including at pet stores, in the fishing industry, and at cruel marine parks. You can help us continue our lifesaving work by offering a kind donation:
