During my last post, I addressed the question of whether or not fish feel pain and have a conscious mind capable of seeking pleasure or feeling emotional stress. I want to expand on this topic, based on another scientific paper which includes more information and research, asking the question whether or not fish should be included in our moral circle of sentient animals and provided protection under the law. Yesterday’s post was based on a scientific paper by Dr. Stephanie Cottee and the information shared today borrows from a paper by Culum Brown and Dr. Marc Bekoff. Fish intelligence, consciousness and ability to feel pain has long been written off as implausible, based on physiological differences between fish, mammals and especially human beings. Since some aquarists are scuba divers, we may forget that a large majority of the population will never experience fish behavior in the wild. Those of us working with marine animals know that they form complex social hierarchies, have interesting brooding and parental habits and display behavior indicative of long term memory. All of these factors have been scientifically studied, leading researchers to believe that fish are sentient (self-aware) animals, which possess a wide range of emotions. In fact, according to Culum Brown in his paper Fish Intelligence, Sentience and Ethics – fish have far more in common emotionally with human beings, than other animals within the animal kingdom. Research has shown that fish behavior includes a wide array of sophisticated behaviors, even showing signs of Machiavellian intelligence (political and social intelligence often attributed to humans and primates). 
Scientists have also documented the use of tools in various fish species. Many aquarists are aware of fish using physical adaptations as tools, such as a triggerfish using a jet-stream of water to flip over a snail or sea urchin. If scientifically there is every reason to believe that fish are sentient beings, capable of suffering and emotion, then why are the same protections offered too many animals not applied to fish. Brown notes that public perception and opinion is often what decides legislative outcomes, and sways the majority in making preconceived notions about animal conscious. As I said earlier, most people have never observed fish behavior in the wild. Sadly, the only time people have had a personal relationship with fish, is when they are on a plate. Fish live in the aquatic medium, so their style of communication is entirely different than that of humans.… More:
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