Response to Torgersen et al. (2011): Reply to Diggles et al. (2011): Ecology and welfare of aquatic animals in wild capture fisheries

摘要

We welcome feedback on our paper that examined the ecology and welfare of aquatic animals in wild capture fisheries (Diggles et al. 2011), and agree with Torgersen et al. (2011) that the issue is an important one. However we must question statements such as “The basis for the interest in animal welfare is man’s capacity for empathy and the assumption or suspicion that animals have an experience of life.” We believe that interest in the welfare of animals in their natural environment should be founded on objective data, rather that anthropomorphic “empathy” and the vaguely founded “assumption or suspicion that animals have an experience of life.” This one example demonstrates how different people can interpret concepts of aquatic animal welfare in quite different ways, highlighting how views on these issues vary depending on external influences such as the culture, education, socio-economic status, dietary preferences, gender or even political and religious persuasion of the individuals involved (Furnham et al. 2003). As pointed out recently by Browman and Skiftesvik (2011), welfare issues blur the lines between science and ethics, morals and philosophy.