Anglers off the hook as scientists conclude that fish feel no pain

by Valerie Elliott on 19 Mar 2013 The debate over whether or not fish feel pain has raged on for years, but now Britain’s four million anglers can rest easy – because fish do not feel pain, scientists have concluded.

Fish do not even suffer when they are hooked and fighting for their lives, according to research by an international team.

They say fish do not have a brain system or enough sensory receptors in the nerve cells to experience suffering.

While fish may struggle to get free, the scientists say this does not mean they are in pain. Instead, they show ‘little effect’ from injuries and toxins that would leave humans in agony.

In their experiments, reported in the scientific journal Fish and Fisheries, researchers inserted needles into the jaws of rainbow trout. Read more here