A better message for young people

Posted June 26, 2025 2:29 pm

Re: Sarley: the best way to get kids to enjoy fishing, June 18)

Perhaps columnist Steve Sarley should write about ways to help kids connect with nature — like hiking, bird-watching, canoeing, or camping. There’s no shortage of ways families can humanely enjoy the outdoors together. But fishing is not one of them.

A new study published in Scientific Reports confirms an inconvenient truth — fish suffer, and their agony is not brief. Researchers found that these aquatic animals endure intense pain for at least 10 minutes after being caught and exposed to air — sometimes up to 25 minutes. Asphyxiation and ice chilling cause prolonged panic, fear, and torment.

Teaching kids to kill animals for entertainment chips away at their natural empathy and sends a dangerous message — that others’ lives are expendable. Mental health and law-enforcement experts recognize that cruelty to animals is closely linked to violence against humans.

A better way to get kids to enjoy fishing is by leaving fish alone. “Trash fishing,” —a fish-friendly hobby that involves pulling litter from waterways — encourages environmental responsibility and compassion for all living beings.

Every animal is someone. What a wonderful message for the next generation.

Scott Miller, Research Specialist

Fishing & Waterways

The PETA Foundation

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