Do fish feel pain?

Question

or do they not havr the brain capacity do they just react to pain or do the actualy feel discomfort

Answer 1

Here is some info I found for you. Hope this helps!:

"Fish Feel Pain

While it may seem obvious that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people still think of fish as swimming vegetables. In fact, regarding the ability to feel pain, fish are equal to dogs, cats, and all other animals. Dr. Donald Broom, scientific advisor to the British government, explains, “The scientific literature is quite clear. Anatomically, physiologically and biologically, the pain system in fish is virtually the same as in birds and animals."”

Indeed, neurobiologists have long recognized that fish have nervous systems that comprehend and respond to pain, and anyone who made it through Biology 101 knows that fish have nerves and brains that sense pain, just like all animals. Indeed, scientists tell us that fish brains and nervous systems closely resemble our own. For example, fish (like “higher vertebrates”) have neurotransmitters like endorphins that relieve suffering—of course, the only reason for their nervous systems to produce pain killers is to relieve pain. Claiming that fish do not suffer is as intellectually and scientifically sound as arguing that the Earth is flat.

Interestingly, scientists have created a detailed map of pain receptors in fish's mouths and all over their bodies. A team of researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada recently surveyed the scientific literature on fish pain and intelligence. They concluded that fish feel pain and that “the welfare of fish requires consideration.” Dr. Lynne Sneddon, a scientist of fish biology in the United Kingdom, explains, “Really, it's kind of a moral question. Is your angling more important than the pain to the fish?”

Scientists at Edinburgh University and the Roslin Institute in the United Kingdom report that in response to pain, fish also feel emotional stress and engage in “a ‘rocking’ motion strikingly similar to the kind of motion seen in stressed higher vertebrates like mammals.” The research team concluded that fish clearly experience pain in the same way as mammals, both physically and psychologically. A study by scientists at the Queen's University of Belfast proved that fish learn to avoid pain, just like other animals. Rebecca Dunlop, one of the researchers, said: “This paper shows that pain avoidance in fish doesn't seem to be a reflex response, rather one that is learned, remembered and is changed according to different circumstances. Therefore, if fish can perceive pain, then angling cannot continue to be considered a non-cruel sport.”

As you would expect from animals who we now know to be intelligent and interesting individuals with memories and the capacity to learn, fish can also suffer from fear and anticipation of physical pain. Researchers from universities across America have published research showing that some fish use sound to communicate distress when nets are dipped into their tanks or they are otherwise threatened. In a separate study, researcher William Tavolga found that fish grunted when they received an electric shock. In addition, the fish began to grunt as soon as they saw the electrode, clearly in anticipation of the torment that Tavolga was inflicting on them.

According to Dr. Michael Fox, D.V.M, Ph.D., "Even though fish don't scream [audibly to humans] when they are in pain and anguish, their behavior should be evidence enough of their suffering when they are hooked or netted. They struggle, endeavoring to escape and, by so doing, demonstrate they have a will to survive."

What happens to fish before they end up on your plate is nothing short of cruelty to animals—whether they’re farmed or pulled from the ocean, fish are treated in ways that would warrant felony charges if it were other animals who were so horribly abused."

Answer 2

Like all animals fish do indeed feel pain. It has been proved by scientists that when a fish is caught on a fishing hook it feels tremendous pain. It is not so much brain capacity as it is senses. While it has been credited that elephants have very small brains they are highly intelligent animals and have remarkable memories. Therefore brain capacity isn't so much the issue in pain, love, sadness and memory for animals and humans.

Answer 3

Fish can feel pain, yes. However, they aren't conscious animals and they do not have the brain capacity nor capability to comprehend it, or even that they exist.
They can only react to pain using prebuilt instinctive reactions, in the same way a human will retract his hand from a fire without thinking, and in the same way the computer you are at reacts to people pushing its keys based on a prebuilt, albeit very complicated, set of reactions. As they aren't conscious they cannot comprehend pain so no, they do not feel discomfort.

Answer 4

Yes fish can infact feel pain, that is why they try so hard to get away from fishermen when a hook tears through thier lip. They are also aware of when they are suffocating, the way that the flop around and gasp for air. Fish are infact smarter than we think, they may not be like a dog and show loyalty, after all fish have the attention span of only a few seconds, but like all living creatures with a conscience, they can feel pain.

Answer 5

Fish do feel pain, a few years ago this was proved by scientists. The details have been duplicated here so I want go into them.

For many vegetarians this created a dilemma, many vegetarians still ate fish believeing that they did not suffer when caught and killed.

Answer 6

Yes. All living beings feels atleast some minute sort of pain.

Answer 7

yes fish feel, brain capacity has nothing to do with feeling. they have central nervous systems just like any other animal and therefore can feel.

Answer 8

Yes, stupid. Fish DO feel pain because they're animals and all animals feel some form of pain.

Answer 9

yea u ever went fishing and when u pulled a fish out of the water it starts acting wild...i guess thats pain from the hook going inside it mouth

Answer 10

I know lobsters feel pain when being boiled and i'm pretty sure fish have nerves so they most likely do feel pain.