:)
Posted on 06/28/2005 4:23:57 PM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
An animal rights group wants the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach to gut its cafeteria menu of fish and seafood, arguing that "serving fish at an aquarium is like serving poodle burgers at a dog show."
Like Lilo in the animated "Lilo and Stitch," who refused to make a tuna sandwich for her friend, Pudge, a fish, because it would be "an abomination," the head of the Fish Empathy Project for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said serving fish at an aquarium just isn't right. "An institution with a mission that includes teaching people to respect and appreciate marine animals certainly shouldn't serve fish in its cafeteria," Karin Robertson wrote last week in a letter to Jerry Schabel, the aquarium's chairman and chief executive.
Robertson, who runs a website called fishinghurts.com, said recent studies have showed that fish are "intelligent, sensitive and interesting animals."
"Fish are far more intelligent than previously thought, and in some respects their cognitive abilities surpass those of dogs and some nonhuman primates," she wrote to Schabel. "The treatment of both commercially caught fish and fish from fish farms would warrant cruelty-to-animals charges in your state if animals we are more familiar with, like dogs and cats, were treated as badly."
Aquarium officials say they won't ban from their kitchens sustainable seafood, such as tilapia, farmed clams and wild-caught Alaskan salmon, that can be replenished through such means as fish farms. The facility said it co-sponsors a Seafood Watch program with the Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to educate the public about the types of fish that are safe to eat and those to avoid because they are endangered or are caught using methods harmful to other sea creatures.
"Like PETA, we are committed to animals and their conservation, and we appreciate that commitment," Schabel said in a statement Monday. She said some people coming to the aquarium "may want to eat seafood. Rather than eat seafood from unsustainable sources, we stand committed to offering them the alternative of eating only sustainable or environmentally friendly seafood."
The 1.25 million people who visit the aquarium each year can choose from an array of seafood dishes, including clam chowder, rainbow trout and catfish, as well as tilapia and salmon, said spokeswoman Marilyn Padilla.
Despite the aquarium's denying her request, Robertson said she will send letters to other aquariums around the country to point out what she calls the hypocrisy of their menus.
"They should be serving exclusively vegetarian food, not just for the health of their patrons but for the animals they contend to be supporting," she said Monday. "They don't sell elephant burgers at the zoo, and they shouldn't be selling fish at aquariums."
OMG I forgot all about poodle parmesian!!! mmm mmmm mmmm! It's what's for dinner (maybe tomorrow nite!!) LOL
No, but they do serve chicken, beef, pork etc at the same zoos where they show chickens, cows, pigs.
And, in the same way, the aquariums I've been to don't serve EVERYTHING in the exhibits: no shark (usually), no manta rays, and, despite my pleading, no penguin-ka-bob.
And, on a serious note, I think one of the strongest arguments FOR protection and preservation of various species is that if they go extinct, we'll never again be able to enjoy the taste sensation they provide. If spotted owls tasted better than turkey in gravy, we'd have farms of them all over the place.
And what do they serve to the sharks at this aquarium?
:)
I wounder if the fish screams for PETA when the shark eats him. Maybe we should feed PETA to the sharks. Since they are pretty hungry.
You know, with a little pepper...
Lots of Africans love to get the elephants, or they used to when the Brits still ruled, that hunters shot. It was the only source of protein available for many tribes.
[Freepmail me to get on or off this Not-A-Ping-List.]
"...I wonder what Great Dane tastes like."
Think dark meat chicken, from a very dumb chicken.
Same goes for the subsidiary, Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine.
BTW, tonight our local news on KELO reported a health story about milk, partially based on one of their "reports", then added a disclaimer that "You should also know that the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine promotes a vegan diet, which means it doesn't support animal products as part of any diet."
I cheered when I heard it; it is about time they were outed, rather reported as a straight, unbiased source.
More like brats, corndogs, turkey legs, and burgers at the county 4H fair.
It reminds one of the link between field, farm, pond, and table.
Probably too gristly and chock full of drugs to be any good.
Meant to caption it: "Catch of the Day"
You oftten CAN get steak at a stock show.
And 4-H kids often sell their lambs or swine or chickens at shows to local groceries, restaurants or private buyers, right there at the Fair.
Sadly, no one will buy llamas accompanied with my recipe for "Llama Llasagna"
PETA is really "out to lunch" on this one.
Re: elephant burgers. No, you won't find that at the zoo. Only hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.
It's the same principle. Livestock is "sustainable."
Free Marketing Tip: Include instructions for knitting Llama Pajamas from the wool.
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