Stop eating fish to help planet says PETA

BHUBANESWAR - Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Thursday urged people to stop eating fish and go vegan to help animals and the planet.

Unveiling the results of a year-long exhaustive investigative report on the fishing industry, senior campaign coordinator Nikunj Sharma said here that by eating fish people were putting their health at risk.

“Fish flesh and fish fat can contain extremely high concentrations of chemical residues - as much as nine million times that of the water in which they live. Eating fish presents a serious health risk,” he said.

India is the world’s third-largest producer of fish, accounting for almost 64 lakh tonnes every year.

“In India, consumption of fish is a major cause of high mercury levels in women,” he said.

PETA has gathered information for its report from first hand investigation, scientific studies and research from government sources and NGOs.

“Alarming levels of mercury were found in 264 samples of popular fish - including rohu, bhola, tangra and bhetki - which were collected across West Bengal,” he said.

Citing a study by health expert Ann Mathew of New Delhi, he said: “These high mercury concentrations can affect the development of a child even at the foetal stage.

“People who eat fish also inject polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - a group of toxic chemical,” he said.

“We encourage people to leave fish off their plates for good - the good of the people, animals and earth,” he said.