Fish and marine life

Last updated 25 September 2020

There is ever-emerging evidence that fish are complex, intelligent and sentient beings. Fish are capable of time-place learning where they link events with both location and time of occurrence. Animals, humans and otherwise use this to decide to visit or avoid places at certain times, based on their previous experiences. 

For many, fish are difficult animals to relate to and empathise with because they are so starkly different to humans and other land-based animals. Fish respond to pain in ways that are unfamiliar to humans; they don't vocalise like other animals, and try to escape pain in ways different to us. It is widely accepted among scientific communities that fish are capable of feeling pain. Despite our differences, fish are deserving of our respect and desperately need our protection in the midst of facing the very real threat of fishless oceans by 2050.