Vegetarians don't eat fish, shellfish or crustacea. They never have, never will, but they can still enjoy one of the healthiest diets available.
Many things have changed since the Vegetarian Society was founded way back in 1847 but fish have always been cold-blooded water dwelling animals and vegetarians do not eat animals!
Like other animals, fish feel pain and suffer before they end up on some people's plates. The bad news is that in 2008 approximately 588,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish were caught in the seas around the UK and the world's annual fish catch has risen from over 18 to over 90 million tonnes during the last century. Horrifically an estimated 23% of that total catch is killed and discarded as a result of 'incidental capture'.
An estimated 3,500 seals are killed in Scotland alone each year as they are considered a threat to farmed salmon.
Almost 50% of fish consumed as food worldwide are now intensively raised on fish farms (known as aquaculture).
Long-line fishing practices kill approximately 100,000 albatrosses and other sea birds each year.
Fish have a nervous system and pain receptors like all other animals.
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ndustrial fishing is responsible for some of the most environmentally damaging practices affecting our world. Many species, including tuna, plaice, monkfish and cod are under threat of extinction from loss of habitat and over-fishing. Other wildlife is endangered too as trawling the ocean floors for fish destroys the fragile underwater ecosystem. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are all under threat due to fishing.