Nearly Naked ‘Mermaids’ to Stick Up for Fish

During Sportfishing Summit, PETA Beauties Will Point Out That Fish Deserve Kindness, Not Pain and Suffering

For Immediate Release:
October 16, 2013

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Ft. Myers, Fla. — Wearing little more than “fins,” two sexy PETA members dressed like mermaids and holding signs that read, “Fishing Hurts,” will greet residents and visitors of Fort Myers on Thursday, when the Sportfishing Summit will be in town. The sexy sirens’ point? That scientific studies show that fish are intelligent, sensitive animals who experience pain and fear when they’re hooked or netted and pulled from the water. 

When:   Thursday, October 17, 12 noon

Where:  Intersection of First and Hendry streets, Fort Myers

“PETA is challenging Fort Myers residents and visitors to think about who fish really are: Living beings who feel pain and fear just like dogs, cats, and all other animals do,” says PETA campaigner Ashley Byrne. 

Fish live in groups with social hierarchies, form bonds and cooperate with other fish, and have impressive memories. Some can even use tools and tell time. Dr. Donald Broom, a scientific adviser to the British government, has said, “The scientific literature is quite clear. Anatomically, physiologically and biologically, the pain system in fish is virtually the same as in birds and mammals.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org or FishingHurts.com.