fish-sentience: Fish Sentience and Cognition

Question 1

About this Deck: “Fish Sentience and Cognition”

Answer 1

This deck parallels the briefing at: https://vbriefings.org/fish-sentience

• There are no formal citations here, although sources may be mentioned. Full citations with links are included in the full briefing.
• It would be best to read the briefing before studying these cards. Reading the briefing first provides understanding and context.

Question 2

What is the briefing titled “Fish Sentience and Cognition” about?

Answer 2

This briefing provides scientific evidence that fish feel pain, are sentient, and lead rich cognitive, emotional, and psychological lives. It is supported by experts in various fields.

Question 3

How might you summarize the briefing on fish sentience?

Answer 3

Fish are sentient beings with the ability to feel pain, experience emotions, and lead cognitively rich lives, as evidenced by studies and scientists, who show that fish perceive pain similarly to mammals and birds.

Their complex behaviors, including learning, memory, and anticipating future events, reveal advanced cognitive and emotional capacities.

Additionally, their ability to experience fear and stress highlights their sophisticated neurological structures, underscoring the depth of their emotional and cognitive lives.

Question 4

What does it mean to be “sentient” and why is sentience relevant?

Answer 4

Sentience is the capacity to feel pain and experience emotions. While sentient beings have different levels of intelligence, these differences in intelligence are not morally relevant.

It is significant because it serves as the criterion for determining whether living beings deserve moral consideration.

Question 5

How do fish display emotions or cognitive abilities?

Answer 5

Fish exhibit complex behaviors including:

—Learning

—Memory

—Anticipating future events

—Fear and stress responses

Question 6

What are the key points in the briefing about fish sentience?

Answer 6

—Fish feel pain.

—Fish display emotions.

—Fish cognition can match or exceed other vertebrate animals.

—Fish have a sense of themselves and the future.

—Fish can experience fear and stress.

—Fish have long-term memory and can learn.

Question 7

Name some experts and organizations that say fish feel pain?

Answer 7

—Marc Bekoff, perhaps the world’s leading cognitive ethologist

—The American Veterinary Medical Association, an organization that serves animal agriculture

—Victoria Braithwaite, professor of Fisheries and Biology at Penn State University

—Donald Broom, Emeritus Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Cambridge

—Culum Brown and coauthor of the book “Fish Cognition and Behavior” and Marquette Natural Sciences professor.

Question 8

Who is Marc Bekoff and what does he say about fish sentience?

Answer 8

Marc Bekoff, one the world’s leading cognitive ethologists, having written over 30 books and hundreds of essays on animals, says that “fish are sentient and emotional beings and clearly feelpain.

Question 9

What did the Smithsonian say about fish feeling pain?

Answer 9

The Smithsonian Magazine published an article titled ‘It’s Official: Fish Feel Pain’.

It referenced numerous compelling studies showing strong evidence that fish feel pain.

Question 10

What is the position of the American Veterinary Medical Association regarding pain in finfish, and why does their position hold special significance?

Answer 10

The American Veterinary Medical Association said that “finfish should be accorded the same considerations as terrestrial vertebrates regarding relief frompain.

Their position holds special significance because of its close ties with the animal agriculture industry. It is not aligned with any animal rights organization or vegan agenda.

Question 11

Do fish have self-awareness? Says who?

Answer 11

Victoria Braithwaite, professor of Fisheries and Biology at Penn State University, states that Fish, like birds and mammals, have a capacity for self-awareness and feel pain.

Question 12

Can fish feel pain like humans do? Says who?

Answer 12

According to Donald Broom, Emeritus Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Cambridge, “the evidence of pain system and fear system function in fish is so similar to that in humans and other mammals that it is not logical to conclude that fish cannot feel pain.”

Question 13

How does fish cognition compare to other vertebrate animals? Says who?

Answer 13

Culum Brown, Marquette Natural Sciences professor and coauthor of the book ‘Fish Cognition and Behavior’, says that “fish experience pain in a manner similar to the rest of the vertebrates.”

Question 14

Is there evidence that fish can feel emotions? Says who?

Answer 14

Ethologist Dr. Jonathan Balcombe, in one of his 6 books on animal behavior, ‘What a Fish Knows’, shows overwhelming evidence that fish are intelligent, feel pain, display emotions and have many of the other characteristics of the land animals. Including those we use for food.

Question 15

Does fish cognition match or exceed other vertebrate animals? Says who?

Answer 15

Culum Brown, Marquette Natural Sciences professor and coauthor of the book ‘Fish Cognition and Behavior’, says that “fish perception and cognitive abilities often match or exceed other vertebrates.”

Question 16

How do we know that fish have a sense of the future?

Answer 16

Fish avoid areas where they have previously had negative experiences, showing that they are able to anticipate events. It also shows they attempt to avoid potential harm and are capable of long-term memory.

Question 17

How do we know that fish have a sense of themselves? Says who?

Answer 17

Victoria Braithwaite, professor of Fisheries and Biology at Penn State University, says that “fish, like birds and mammals, have some capacity for self-awareness.”

Question 18

What did a scientific panel commissioned by the European Commission conclude about fish?

Answer 18

A scientific panel commissioned by the European Commission concluded:

—Fish are able to experience fear, they point out that fear is useful for defense and escape.

—The stress physiology of fish is “directly comparable to that of higher vertebrates.”

—When exposure to stress is prolonged, it can become chronic and affect the immune system and growth, and may even cause death.

Question 19

What evidence is there that fish have a long-term memory or can learn?

Answer 19

A paper published in the Fish and Fisheries Journal identified several studies showing that fish learn skills from one another, including:

—Predator avoidance

—Migration routes

—Food location

—Eavesdropping

—How to choose a mate

Question 20

What is the one piece of evidence that fish can learn from negative experiences and why is this important for them?

Answer 20

Common carp remember and can learn from a hooking experience for 14 months after the event. This helps them to avoid and reduce repeat future experiences.

Question 21

How does fish’s ability to learn relate to long-term memory?

Answer 21

The ability to learn shows that fish possess and use long-term memory for survival.

Question 22

Do animals need to have a neocortex to feel pain?

Answer 22

Birds and amphibians are known to suffer and feel pain despite not having a neocortex. As a result, it is not reasonable to conclude that fish do not experience pain or suffering based on their brain structure.

Question 23

Would a having different brain structure mean that fish cannot feel pain?

Answer 23

Though the brain structure of fish differs from that of mammals, it performs similar functions. Fish possess both an amygdala and a hippocampus, regions of the brain that deal with learning, emotion, and memory.

Additionally, bird, reptile and amphibian brains are different to mammals but it is accepted they feel pain and can suffer.

Question 24

How many fish are killed for food in the USA per year?

Answer 24

Caught: 6.28 – 13.51 billion
Farmed: 244 – 583 million

Estimates are from United Nations FAO, data compiled by fishcount.org.uk

Question 25

How many fish are killed for food globally per year?

Answer 25

Caught: 0.78 – 2.3 trillion Farmed: 51 – 167 billion Estimates are from United Nations FAO, data compiled by fishcount.org.uk

Question 26

What other briefings are related to this topic?

Answer 26

Fish Injustices and Suffering: https://vbriefings.org/fish-injustices/

Question 27

Why is it better to use expert testimony than experiments when advocating for fish?

Answer 27

We intentionally use credentialed expert testimony instead of experiments because they carry more substantial weight.

Question 28

How do I advocate for fish?

Answer 28

Whenever you mention cows, pigs, and chickens as subjects of exploitation, add fish to that list.

Question 29

What does it mean if someone accepts that fish are sentient?

Answer 29

If someone accepts that fish are sentient and worthy of moral consideration, then it will likely follow for them that other vertebrates such as pigs, cows, and chickens are also sentient.

Question 30

How to respond if asked for sources and you can't remember them?

Answer 30

Explain they’re from various studies and the citations are available at the vbriefings.org briefing on fish sentience.

Question 31

Name four sources that can provide a deeper understanding of fish sentience

Answer 31

—The website, 'Fish Feel' educates the public about fish intelligence and emotional capacity, advocates for their welfare, and raises awareness about the exploitation of fish in various industries. —The Smithsonian Magazine article, 'It’s Official: Fish Feel Pain.' presents the scientific evidence that fish can feel pain and discusses the potential ethical implications of this understanding. —The YouTube Video, 'What Fish Feel When They Are Killed for Food' presents evidence and arguments supporting the idea that fish can feel pain, challenging the common belief that they cannot, and explores the ethical implications of this understanding for how we treat fish. —The YouTube video, 'The VET Talks – Can Fish Feel Pain?' presents scientific evidence that fish have the necessary neurological structures and exhibit behaviors indicating they can experience pain.

Question 32

What are some general tips for discussing fish sentience and cognition?

Answer 32

—Whenever you mention cows, pigs, and chickens as subjects of exploitation, try and remember to add fish to that list. —If someone accepts that fish are sentient and worthy of moral consideration, then it will likely follow for them that other vertebrates such as pigs, cows, and chickens are also sentient. —As always, if you are asked for the sources and can’t be specific, then say they’re from various studies and the citations are available at the vbriefings.org post on fish sentience. —Finally, ——Make it personal. Help them connect with their own experiences rather than just hearing facts. ——Challenge their assumptions. Get them to examine their biases rather than just rejecting the idea outright. ——Ask, don’t just tell. Thought-provoking questions stick with people longer than statistics.

Question 33

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, how can we connect the suffering to their purchasing decisions?

Answer 33

When discussing animal suffering with someone, the goal is to help them recognize that their purchasing choices directly contribute to that suffering. Many people compartmentalize their role in the system, seeing the harm as something “out there” rather than something they are personally involved in. By asking thought-provoking questions, we encourage them to take responsibility for their choices. —“Since most people don’t kill fish themselves, the suffering happens out of sight. But do you think purchasing fish absolves us of culpability for what happens to them?” —“When we buy fish, we’re financially supporting the industries that breed, catch, and kill them. Wouldn’t you say that our purchases directly contribute to their suffering?” —“If demand for fish products declined, do you think fewer fish would be farmed, netted, and slaughtered?” —“The same is true for chickens, cows, and pigs. If we recognize our culpability for suffering in purchasing fish, doesn’t it follow that buying meat, eggs, or dairy has the same effect?” —“If we can meet our nutritional needs without buying products that cause suffering, wouldn’t the most ethical choice be to stop purchasing them?” Why? It ties suffering back to their own purchases and makes it personal.

Question 34

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, what questions can you ask to encourage them not to dismiss fish?

Answer 34

People often devalue fish because they seem too different from us. Instead of jumping straight into facts, get them to reflect on their own experiences. —“Have you ever seen a fish struggle on a hook or gasp for air out of water? If they didn’t feel anything, why would they react like that?” —“If fish didn’t feel pain, why do they try to escape when caught? Why do they avoid places where they’ve had bad experiences?” Why? This makes the suffering of fish visceral and real rather than just theoretical.

Question 35

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, what questions can you ask to direct the focus to science?

Answer 35

Many people assume fish don’t feel pain simply because they haven’t been exposed to the evidence. —“Scientific studies show that fish have pain receptors, stress responses, and even avoid places where they’ve been hurt before—just like mammals. Why do you think so many scientists agree that fish feel pain?” Why? This challenges them to rethink their bias toward land animals.

Question 36

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, what questions can you ask to provide a moral consistency check?

Answer 36

People often draw arbitrary lines about which animals deserve compassion. Push them to justify their reasoning. —“If a dog was gasping for air, most people would rush to help. Why do we see a suffocating fish as just ‘normal fishing’?” —“If intelligence were the deciding factor for moral consideration, where would that leave babies or people with cognitive disabilities?” —“If fish suffer when they’re pulled from the water, suffocate, or are cut open alive, does that suffering hold moral weight?” Why? This forces them to confront their own inconsistencies rather than just dismissing fish.

Question 37

In discussing fish sentience and cognition, how can you flip the burden of proof?

Answer 37

Some people will say, “You can’t prove fish feel pain.” The truth is, they can’t prove the opposite—and the scientific consensus is already in favor of fish sentience. —“There’s more evidence that fish feel pain than there is for many things we take for granted. Wouldn’t it make sense to err on the side of caution?” —“If we waited for absolute proof before acting, would we also ignore suffering in other animals just because we haven’t studied it enough?” Why? This shifts the burden back onto them instead of you constantly defending your position.

Question 38

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, how can we get them to see the scale of suffering?

Answer 38

Many people don’t realize how many fish are killed every year. Numbers this big make it clear that the issue is massive, not trivial. —“Did you know that humans kill trillions of fish per year—far more than all land animals combined? Does that sound like an issue worth ignoring?” —“When you hear about animal suffering, most people think of cows, pigs, and chickens. Why do you think we leave out the trillions of fish who suffer just as much?” —Why? This helps them see how overlooked fish suffering really is.

Question 39

When discussing fish sentience and cognition, how can you get them to think about individual fish, not just numbers?

Answer 39

Large numbers can feel too abstract for people to care about. Make fish suffering relatable by talking about their behavior. —“Some fish build nests, use tools, and have long-term memory. Does that sound like a mindless creature to you?” —“There are fish who recognize individuals, hold grudges, and even learn from each other. If a dog did that, we’d call it intelligence. Why ignore it in fish?” Why? This humanizes fish, making it harder to dismiss them.