/ 5 May 2004

Fish in bricks cause a flutter

South Africa’s National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has condemned the sale of Siamese fighter fish as corporate gifts.

”We strongly object to the sale of the Siamese fighter fish as corporate gifts and trust that you will contact the relevant company to protest in the strongest possible way to the cruelty these fish are subjected to,” said Christine Kuch, spokesperson for the NSPCA, in a statement on Wednesday.

She said the NSPCA has made it clear to the promoters from the outset that it opposes the concept.

”We confirm our opposition to the product. It is contrary to the NSPCA policy,” she said.

Apparently, the Siamese fighter fish have been confined into ”brick-style” glass containers and exhibited in Gauteng centres under the name ”Aqua Forest” by the Square Forest promotions company.

”This system condemns them to a lifetime of solitary confinement in an unacceptable small tank,” said Kuch.

In contrast, a spokesperson for Square Forest, Warren Sulski, said the product has been scientifically tested by the department of ichthyology at Rhodes University.

”They decided that there was nothing cruel with the product,” he said.

He said the Siamese fighter fish are kept in 200ml plastic cups in the United Kingdom and United States, whereas Square Forest keeps them in containers seven times bigger than 200ml.

”If the NSPCA can allow pet shops to keep birds in cages, then why should they have a problem with our product?” he asked.

He said for the past 700 years, the fish have been bred for solitary confinement.

”They are territorial fish and would get stressed out if confined to a bigger container.”

He added: ”The NSPCA would be happy, but the fish would not be happy.”

But the NSPCA contends that the fish are communal creatures.

Kuch said people who think Siamese fighters are ”just fish” and dismiss concerns for them would no doubt feel differently if the animals involved were kittens, for example.

”The principle and the welfare issues are the same,” she added.

The NSPCA’s Inspector Malcolm Woolmore said although the product is legal as sold, this does not make it ethical or acceptable.

Woolmore warned that there may be legal consequences to the sale of the novelty gifts in terms of the Animal Protection Act. — Sapa