Do fish feel pain?

**AaronJasper** · 03-15-2007, 06:00 PM

i had a science workshop at liberty science center today. one of the people there knew a lot about fish and their bahaviors. i asked a lot of questions about thier sight and if they feel pain when we hook them, i got an e mail back today about an article summary about fish feeling pain. read it and tell me what do you think. a lot of it makes sense.
aaron

Article Summary:

This review examines the neurobehavioral nature of fishes and addresses the question of whether fishes are capable of experiencing pain and suffering. The detrimental effects of anthropomorphic thinking and the importance of an evolutionary perspective for understanding the neurobehavioral differences between fishes and humans are discussed. The differences in central nervous system structure that underlie basic neurobehavioral differences between fishes and humans are described. The literature on the neural basis of consciousness and of pain is reviewed, showing that: (1) behavioral responses to noxious stimuli are separate from the psychological experience of pain, (2) awareness of pain in humans depends on functions of specific regions of cerebral cortex, and (3) fishes lack these essential brain regions or any functional equivalent, making it untenable that they can experience pain. Because the experience of fear, similar to pain, depends on cerebral cortical structures that are absent from fish brains, it is concluded that awareness of fear is impossible for fishes. Although it is implausible that fishes can experience pain or emotions, they display robust, nonconscious, neuroendocrine, and physiological stress responses to noxious stimuli. Thus, avoidance of potentially injurious stress responses is an important issue in considerations about the welfare of fishes.

So, what this paper is really saying in English, is that fish have the same chemical and physiological responses that we have when we feel pain, like increased heart rate, heavy breathing, increased blood flow, etc., but they do not have the region in the brain that can process it like humans have. So, they feel something, but it can not be understood or processed at the high levels that we feel it. Keep in mind, however, that the chemical and physiological response of the fish shows it is under stress; the same way when we feel anxious, we "hurt" all over and can't explain why. Stress and anxiety isn't pinpointed, it just feels bad. Maybe this is how the fish actually feels pain.

But really, who can know?

I hope that helps! Take care, and

**CM_Stewart** · 03-15-2007, 06:33 PM

Do fish feel pain? Look, fish live in schools. Remember when you were in school? The pain is nothing compared to the shame and embarrasment they feel when it gets all over the school (and it will) that they fell for a knock-off.

**AaronJasper** · 03-15-2007, 07:06 PM

you are right maybe they are embarrassed!! sometimes they fall for really bad knock offs. i would feel bad if i ate a pink san juan work too lol. the summary also points out that how do we really know. i just thought that this would be a good thing to discuss because of all the the people that areinvolved with peta etc. this is definately a bone of contention with many anglers.

rckrego · 03-17-2007, 12:24 AM

I read a similar scientific report that said essentially, when injured fish panic, but don't feel pain. That's why they can get nailed by a heron, osprey or pike (or us) and go right back to acting like nothing happened. They don't suffer; they just freak out, and give us some fun.