PETA asks state to feel for the kings

Juneau Empire ^ | February 20, 2005 | Elizabeth Bluemink

[Graybeard58]

Group wants to rescue chinook salmon from Alaskans' steely hooks

The world's largest animal-rights group asked Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski on Friday to declare king salmon, the state fish, off-limits to fishing.

"We ought to protect king salmon in a manner appropriate to a state symbol - ensuring that they don't suffer needlessly at the hands of anglers," wrote Karin Robertson, project manager for the Norfolk, Va.-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) Fish Empathy Project, in a letter faxed to the governor.

Robertson said fishing should be stopped because recent scientific research indicates that fish have acute senses, high intelligence, excellent memories and complex social behavior.

"This just proves you can find research to back up any crazy idea," said Becky Hultberg, the governor's spokeswoman.

Hultberg said the governor isn't interested in ending fishing for Alaska's most prized sport and commercial salmon species.

Instead, Murkowski "would like to see more king salmon on the dinner plates of folks on the East Coast," Hultberg said.

PETA promotes veganism - a dairy- and meat-free lifestyle.

According to PETA, emerging evidence about the cognitive abilities of fish - including their ability to feel pain - is paving the way for society to consider "hooking fish through the mouth and ripping them out of their natural environments with the same revulsion that we feel about cruelty to dogs or cats. Imagine hooking a dog or a cat through the mouth with a large hook and dragging them behind your car," Robertson said in her letter.

A couple of people in Southeast Alaska's commercial fishing industry contacted Friday wouldn't dignify PETA's request with a response. But after learning the basis of the group's argument for ending the fisheries, Juneau salmon troller Mark Stopha had a quick riposte.

"I only catch the stupid ones," Stopha said. "I wouldn't be able to catch the smart ones, anyway."

"I'm trying to weed out the gene pool," he added.

[Clara Lou]

Yes, my 52 lb. king salmon wanted to live [until he could die a little further up the Kenai River]. He thought he could break my 12 lb. test line. He couldn't. We ate him with fresh dill sauce. He was good.

[cripplecreek]

Guess we'll have to halt deer season, fishing, and eating apples in Michigan.

[bill1952]

Why don't they just come right out and say that they want to outlaw our free will and be done with the pretense.
After all they are so much better that us, right?

"Imagine hooking a dog or a cat through the mouth with a large hook and dragging them behind your car," Robertson said in her letter"

What I would like to do is drag her behind my car for a few...

[rickmichaels]

"Imagine hooking a dog or a cat through the mouth with a large hook and dragging them behind your car."

PETA never misses an opportunity to destroy their credibility with nonsense like this.

[tiredoflaundry]

I would love to see a PETA person try to stop a bear from enjoying his salmon!

[evolved_rage]

Hey PETA, the human species, an omnivore with canine teeth for ripping flesh, wants to live too. You anemic vegans would be a genetic dead-end were it not for the advent of turkey basters.

[Lazamataz]

I've decided PETA is right. I should not eat any animal.

So from now on, I will track, trap, kill and eat PETA members.

[MWS]

"I only catch the stupid ones," Stopha said. "I wouldn't be able to catch the smart ones, anyway."

"I'm trying to weed out the gene pool," he added.

What a great response.

[Dutch Boy]

Why is it that hunting and fishing have been part of the human species since the begining of time but now it's bad? The creation of a super market in modern times do nothing to change the fact that hunting and fishing is probably one of the longest lived human traditions. It is the natural order of things. Nature is filled with predators and prey.

[Piquaboy]

Save a salmon, eat Karin.

[wolfpat]

As a charter member of PETV, I just want to go on record to say that vegetables feel pain too. We need to liberate vegetables from the shackles we have put on them. Life is not just for the ambulatory. As humans, we should seek to stop inflicting suffering on other species. Since PETA says we should stop eating animal flesh, and PETV stands for the rights of vegetables, we should only eat dirt. If it's good enough for our veggie brothers, it's good enough for us.
exit sarcasm

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

No Laz! You don't know where they have been!

[Graybeard58]

this misguided youth and PETA staff member legally changed her name from Karin Robertson to "GoVeg.com" to promote vegetarianism. maybe "Go Veg", as she is known to her friends, will follow in the footsteps of Prince and eventually change her name back from her ridiculous new moniker to something that can be said with straight face. her parents must be so proud.

[marktwain]

They might as well try to convince Alaskans to give up sex, on the basis that it is unsanitary and dangerous.

[bill1952]

Your post is less satirical than you know.

Back in the 70s-80s there was a loony group that did claim that vegetation also had feelings, and that mowing your lawn was "traumatic amputation" and should be outlawed.

They wanted to have everyone eating some type of artificial food, but I don't think anyone ever figured out how to do that. 8^)

Some people are just plain strange.

[Boazo]

What! you've never put a chair in the back of a pickup trolling for dogs with a steak on your hook?

[Darnright]

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2749

[wolfpat]

I didn't know about that. Thanks.
I guess the only thing they'll accept is outlined in "Soylent Green."

[oyez]

PETA is all about people control. Nothing else.