The practice of catch-and-release seems to be a commandment, not to be violated. When scientists or environmentalists or even widely admired writers on the sport politely suggest that it sometimes makes sense to keep and eat what is hooked, the reaction can be indignant.
Why is that? What if nature might be better off if we eat fish that are invasive species, for example? Does research show whether fish feel pain?
Read the comments left after each of the six panelists make their point. It is telling to see how “regular” people stand on the issues.
Maybe this will jump start more serious discussion on fish and pain? We’ll see.
I totally support eating up those invasive exotic fish species! The more people that eat’um up and help get rid of them, the more the streams and brooks will benefit. This will make for a more biologically diverse habitat. Now when people go backpacking, hiking, camping, and fishing, they’ll be able to enjoy catching native species in the wonderful wilderness outdoors!
If it’s a headwaters stream, not downstream of anything poisonous, I eat browns, brookies, and rainbows, and I don’t even like the taste of trout. I live in cutthroat country, where we lose miles of prime habitat to invasives every year.