Dr. Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish. It’s not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low. It’s not because they’re bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water. It’s because they’re smart.
“Fish are sensitive, and they have personalities,” says the marine (海洋) biologist. For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat. “Personally, I would never eat anyone I know.”
There’s a lot more about fish: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human. They can remember things and learn from experience. Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket. “While it may seem obvious that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables,” says Dr. Lynne Sneddon. “Really, ifs kind of a moral question. Is the enjoyment you get from fishing or eating fish more important than the pain of the fish?”
Fishermen and fish lovers are doubtful. “I’ve never seen a smart fish,” says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant. “If they were very smart, they wouldn’t get caught.”
“For years, everyone’s been telling us to eat fish because it’s so good for us,” says another diner. “Now I’ve got to feel guilty while I’m eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don’t eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?”
【小题1】What does Dr. Sylvia think of fish?| A．Clever. | B．Endangered. |
| C．Poisonous. | D．Low. |
| A．Dr. Sylvia. | B．Marie Swaringen. |
| C．Dr. Lynne Sneddon. | D．Earle. |
| A．Is Fish Feeling Painful? | B．Dr. Sylvia Earle and Fish |
| C．A Fish’s Adventure | D．Eat Fish or Not? |
