Fish Food for Thought

The Earth’s fish are countless - over 30,000 species have been recorded, and unknown numbers remain to be discovered. These fascinating animals are among the most ancient, with fossil evidence dating modern fish back to the Paleozoic Era.

While fish have played a myriad of roles across human cultures for centuries, our contemporary world places an extraordinary demand on fish populations. This demand is perhaps unique in its invisibility to the public, as relatively few people “get their hands wet” with the work that affects fish and their habitats.

Whether they are kept as pets, hunted for food, photographed by divers, farmed in hatcheries, experimented on in research, or admired in koi ponds, there is law to address the endeavor. From plain language “No Fishing” orders to elaborate policy plans, the array of statutes which touch on fish seems almost as vast as the diversity fish themselves display.

The following are just a few examples of fish and their place in the law.

• Portland Man Gets Probation After Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend's Pet Fish
• The Aquatic Laboratory: Fish in Research and Testing
• Lawsuit: Hawaii Swordfish Fishery Expansion Jeopardizes Turtle Survival
• What is a Longline?
• Rocky, the Snakehead Fish, Dies of Natural Causes
• Maine Kills Illegal Goldfish in Outdoor Pond
• Herring Fishermen Join Trawler Lawsuit
• Lawsuit Raises Questions About Fish Oil Capsules and Health Benefits
• The USDA/APHIS and Live Fish Imports
• Rome Bans Goldfish Bowls
• Knox v. Massachusetts Soc'y for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1981
• An Estimated 26 Million Tons Of Fish Illegally Landed Every Year, Warn Researchers
• Dynamite and Cyanide Fishing
• Fisheries: Salmon Stronghold Bill Swims Upstream
• Cruise Ships and Illegal Dumping