HealthyPlanet

We now know a lot more about those creatures living in our waters than we did when our parents and grandparents taught us that they were not so smart, and of course, didn't feel pain.

So it stands to reason that we may not choose to eat the way they taught us to eat. That's not a reflection on our ancestors, but a testament to our ability and desire to adjust course in light of what we have subsequently learned and what we stand for.

Last year, scientists published the first study of its kind to quantify the intensity of pain and suffering experienced by fish during air asphyxiation (suffocation), one of the most common methods used to kill more than a trillion fishes annually: awfw.org/oceans

The research indicated that fish endure 2 to 25 minutes of “moderate to excruciating” pain when removed from water, with an average of 10 minutes of “severe suffering” before loss of consciousness. Neurochemical responses "identical" to those exhibited by humans during intense pain are observed in fish within merely five seconds of air exposure.

Writers at Science explain: “Here's what actually happens when fish are pulled from water: their delicate gills collapse and stick together, preventing oxygen exchange. Carbon dioxide from respiration builds up rapidly, triggering the body's alarm system and causing frantic gasping. The rising CO2 levels acidify their blood and spinal fluid, eventually leading to unconsciousness.⁠
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Fish aren't just reacting on instinct—they possess nociceptors, the same specialized pain receptors found in humans. Brain imaging shows these signals activate areas responsible for conscious experience, not just reflexes.”

They also note that the method of allowing fish to asphyxiate on ice, used in many restaurants, markets, and commercial fishing vessels, “might be even worse, slowing metabolism and prolonging consciousness while fish slowly suffocate.⁠”

Learn more about how our food choices impact fishes, other animals, and our oceans with our Oceans resource.

US court rejects EPA bid to ease regulations for coal-fired power plants A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Environmental Protection Agency's bid to ​withdraw Biden-era limits on soot pollution from coal-fired power plants and ‌factories, in a setback for the Trump administration's deregulatory efforts.

Unfortunately, the devastating impacts of climate change are still being felt around the world--despite our government officials' best efforts to ignore its reality. The clock is ticking, and the intense, record-breaking heat that we're seeing in Europe is just the latest sign of a planet whose life support system is under stress.

US public still favours action on climate change despite Trump’s fossil fuel drive Two-thirds of Americans say they are worried about climate but level of media coverage does not reflect this