Yes, fish Feel Pain
The Scientific Evidence of Fishes' Suffering
Coming Soon!
In this clear and compelling book, ethologist Ila France Porcher examines one of the most persistent myths in the natural world. Drawing on modern neuroscience, animal behaviour research, and first hand observation of fishes in the wild, she explains what pain really is, how scientists detect it in animals, and why the evidence in fishes is now overwhelming.
Fish possess the same basic pain systems found in other vertebrates. They learn to avoid harmful events, remember injuries, and change their behaviour for long periods after being hurt. Pain relieving drugs relieves their symptoms. Their brains become active in ways strikingly similar to our own.
So why does the myth persist?
This book explores the scientific evidence, the historical misunderstandings, and the powerful industries that benefit from the belief that fishes are insensible.
Along the way, Porcher introduces readers to the surprising intelligence and awareness of fishes—animals capable of cognition, learning, cooperation, and complex decision-making. The conclusion is difficult to ignore. If fishes can suffer, the way humans treat them must be reconsidered.
Written in an accessible and engaging style, Yes, Fish Feel Pain brings together science, field experience, and clear reasoning to illuminate a question that affects trillions of animals every year.
Once you understand the evidence, you will never think about fish in the same way again.
Reviews
This book presents an important and timely message about how we understand and value fish. It challenges long-held assumptions and encourages readers to reconsider the intelligence, awareness, and emotional lives of aquatic animals. For those who spend time observing marine life firsthand, many of the ideas feel grounded in common sense, even if they have not always been widely acknowledged.
The later chapters are especially clear and direct, and the discussion of fish vocalizations adds a compelling new dimension to the conversation. This book is a thoughtful and meaningful contribution that will resonate most with readers who are open to reexamining their perspectives on the natural world. It invites deeper empathy and a more careful look at the lives unfolding beneath the surface.
Jennifer Idol: The Underwater Designer