SPCA New Zealand

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Animal Advocacy

Position Statements

Fishing and Harvesting of Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates

SPCA advocates for the humane treatment of wild fish and aquatic invertebrates and for avoiding fishing practices that have the potential to cause unnecessary pain, injury or suffering.

Fish and some species of aquatic invertebrates (e.g., octopus, squid, cuttlefish, lobsters, crayfish, and crabs amongst others) are sentient animals. As these animals can experience pain and distress, humans have a duty of care to ensure our treatment of fish and aquatic invertebrates is as humane as possible. Fishing and harvesting practices which have the potential to cause unnecessary pain, injury or distress must be avoided. Fish and aquatic invertebrates must be humanely handled and killed as soon as possible after capture.

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