Fish Sentience and Cognition (fish-sentience)

Question 1

Who is considered by some to be the world’s foremost cognitive ethologist?

Answer 1

Marc Bekoff

Question 2

What is a cognitive ethologist?

Answer 2

An ethologist is a scientist who studies the behaviour of animals in their natural environment. A cognative ethologist studies the influence of conscious awareness and intention on the behaviour of an animal.

Question 3

Tell me something about Marc Bekoff?

Answer 3

“Marc Bekoff has written over 30 books and hundreds of essays on animal behavior. Now Professor Emeritus, he was a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at theUniversity of Colorado Boulderfor 32 years. He cofounded the Jane Goodall Institute of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Question 4

What’s one quote about fish from Marc Bekoff?

Answer 4

“Fish are sentient and emotional beings and clearly feel pain.”

Question 5

What did the article titled ‘It’s Official: Fish Feel Pain’ in the Smithsonian Magazine conclude?

Answer 5

It pointed to numerous studies showing decisively that fish feel pain.

Question 6

What is the stance of the American Veterinary Medical Association on fish pain?

Answer 6

Fish should be accorded the same considerations as terrestrial vertebrates in regard to relief from pain.

Question 7

The American Veterinary Medical Association has close ties with what industry?

Answer 7

“The animal agriculture industry

Question 8

According to Victoria Braithwaite, how does the evidence of sentience and pain perception in fish compare to that for birds and mammals?

Answer 8

The evidence is as good as anything we have for birds and mammals, showing fish have a capacity for self-awareness.

Question 9

What does Donald Broom, Emeritus Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Cambridge, say about fish pain?

Answer 9

The evidence of pain system function in fish is so similar to humans and other mammals, it’s illogical to deduce that fish cannot feel pain.

Question 10

According to Marquette Natural Sciences professor Colum Brown, how do fish experience pain?

Answer 10

In a manner similar to the rest of the vertebrates.

Question 11

What does Dr. Jonathan Balcombe’s book ‘What a Fish Knows’ reveal about fish?

Answer 11

It shows overwhelming evidence that fish are intelligent, feel pain, display emotions, and have many characteristics similar to land animals used for food.

Question 12

According to Marquette Natural Sciences professor Colum Brown, how do fish cognitive abilities compare to other vertebrates?

Answer 12

Fish perception and cognitive abilities often match or exceed other vertebrates.

Question 13

What does Victoria Braithwaite say about fish’s capacity for self-awareness?

Answer 13

Fish, like birds and mammals, have a capacity for self-awareness.

Question 14

How do fish demonstrate their ability to anticipate future events?

Answer 14

Fish avoid areas where they have previously had negative experiences, showing they can anticipate future events.

Question 15

Can fish experience fear?

Answer 15

Yes, fish are able to experience fear, which is useful for defense and escape.

Question 16

How does stress affect fish?

Answer 16

The stress physiology of fish is directly comparable to that of higher vertebrates, and prolonged exposure to stress can affect the immune system, growth, and may even cause death.

Question 17

Do fish have the ability to learn from one another?

Answer 17

Yes, fish learn skills from one another, including predator avoidance, migration routes, and how to choose a mate.

Question 18

What does a study published in the Journal of Fish Biology reveal about fish memory?

Answer 18

If fish are caught with a hook and released, they remember the experience at least a year later and avoid the hooks, demonstrating long-term memory.