US /

PETA Protests Seattle Fish-Flinging

Fishmongers nonplussed by PETA effort to defend the dignity of dead fish
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2009 5:21 AM CDT
PETA Protests Seattle Fish-Flinging
A contestant throws a fish in a salmon-tossing contest at Seattle's Pike Place market.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

PETA has called foul on the antics of Seattle's famous fishmongers, the Los Angeles Times reports. Workers at the city's Pike Place market routinely chuck fish more than a dozen feet from display case to counter over the heads of shoppers with deadly accuracy. PETA says the practice is "celebrating cruelty" and is protesting plans for fishmongers’ demonstration at an upcoming veterinarians' conference.

It sends a "terrible message" when "vets call it fun to toss around the corpses of animals,” one PETA campaigner said. The vets plan to go ahead with the show, and the fishmongers are largely bewildered by PETA's carping. "I mean, the fish are dead," said a manager who arranges flying fish exhibitions. "We're not laughing and making fun of them. It's just Point A to Point B. That's why we do it."
(More fish stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X