Image by johnnyalive via Flickr
Catch and release fishing has become an extremely popular extension to the sport of fishing over the past few decades. However, there is a great deal of controversy which surrounds this particular practice. While some nations allow only catch and release when it comes to some species of fish, other countries have banned this practice altogether. The question remains of whether this practice, which is often able to allow the fish caught to survive, is actually a cruel and inhumane treatment of an animal. While some people say that it causes the fish pain, others have mentioned that it is unknown whether or not fish even feel pain in the first place. Plus, it can actually be lethal to some kinds of fish.
There have been tests done in an effort to ascertain whether or not fish are capable of feeling pain. In one study, a team of researchers smeared both bee venom and ascetic acid onto the lips of a group of fish. These fish were found to proceed to run their lips along the edges of their tanks, as if to attempt to remove the irritant. While this would suggest that fish feel pain, it has also been suggested that it could merely have indicated that that certain species of fish can be irritated through chemical means.
Whether or not fish get hurt by the act of having a hook stabbing into their mouths and being dragged toward a boat, it is a well known fact that deep sea fish have an extremely low survival probability when they are caught. The action of going from below approximately 33 feet or ten meters is a sufficient change of pressure for the fish to experience severe tissue damage, on account of the grossly expanded, highly pressurized air within their bodies, in the same way as a person holding their breath when ascending from scuba diving.
