To the editor: Entanglement in crab fishing gear is among the largest threats to whales — very smart, advanced, majestic animals. (“New fishing gear means California can have its crab with out killing whales,” letters, Feb. 13)
However there’s one other sufferer of economic fishing — crabs.
Similar to our companion canine and cats, crabs reside, feeling animals. They’re emotionally advanced beings who work collectively to assemble meals and for mutual safety. They usually endure the identical bodily ache all of us do.
Simply think about your legs being ripped off your physique or being boiled alive. It might be inconvenient to acknowledge that crabs are sentient, outstanding animals, however we now know they’re, and we should have a look at them with recent eyes.
The world now not has a thriving “lamp lighter” trade. Switchboard operators are a factor of the previous as effectively. These endings weren’t a tragedy, however quite a constructive signal of social progress.
It’s time for the business crab fishing trade to go. The survival of whales is dependent upon our compassion, and the financial system can be simply advantageous if we depart crabs alone.
Scott Miller, Norfolk, Va.
The author is a analysis specialist for fishing and waterways on the PETA Basis.
