Exploris Aquarium Urged to Go SeaFood-Free

For Immediate Release:

17 February 2016

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

EXPLORIS AQUARIUM URGED TO GO SEAFOOD-FREE

Serving Fish at Aquaria Is Like Serving Monkey Nuggets at Zoos, Says PETA

Belfast – PETA is calling on policymakers at Exploris to declare the aquarium a seafood-free zone when it reopens this summer. Serving dead fish to visitors would contradict the aquarium’s invitation to the public to appreciate the wonder of living fish.

“Experts agree that fish are sensitive, interesting animals who feel pain and have complex social structures. No one – particularly not a facility that is supposed to promote respect for sea life – should profit from needlessly killing fish”, says PETA Special Projects Manager Dawn Carr. “The rise of so many delicious, readily available faux-fish dishes means visitors can enjoy a tasty meal without killing animals.”

Biologists have found that fish develop relationships with each other and grieve when their companions die. Some fish are capable of using tools, while others gather information by eavesdropping. These intelligent, sensitive animals are so good-natured that Dr Sylvia Earle, the world’s leading marine biologist, has said, “I wouldn’t deliberately eat a grouper any more than I’d eat a cocker spaniel”. PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”, encourages all caring people to choose tasty vegan options.

PETA’s letter to Exploris is available here.  For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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