Goldfish have feelings too, say fish researchers

[Elad]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk//article/0,,2087-2200122,00.html

The Sunday Times May 28, 2006

Goldfish have feelings too, say fish researchers
Jack Grimston

-snip-

They claim the idea that goldfish have memories of only three seconds is outdated. “The public probably think it’s a bit quirky, but owners and all veterinary surgeons need to take fish seriously,” said Richmond Loh, a vet from Launceston, Tasmania. He presented a review of fish awareness science last week to a conference of the Australian Veterinary Association in Hobart, Tasmania.

The findings give some support for the arguments of Elliot Morley, the former environment minister, who argued for a ban on goldfish being given away at fairgrounds on the grounds of cruelty. He was forced to back down because Labour feared mockery in the run-up to the general election.

Among the studies cited by Loh was one carried out by British scientists in which fish learnt to push levers at particular times of the day to gain access to food. In another, two fighting fish were placed with an observer fish in a tank. For a long time afterwards the observer avoided swimming too close to the fish that had won the fight.

The studies also found substantial evidence that fish have the brain structures to feel pain and avoid dangers which may hurt them.

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