Worms feel no pain

[ELKCHSR]

Oddly Enough - Reuters


Worms on a Hook Don't Suffer?

OSLO (Reuters) - Worms squirming on a fishhook feel no pain -- nor do lobsters and crabs cooked in boiling water, a scientific study funded by the Norwegian government has found.

"The common earthworm has a very simple nervous system -- it can be cut in two and continue with its business," Professor Wenche Farstad, who chaired the panel that drew up the report, said Monday.

Norway might have considered banning the use of live worms as fish bait if the study had found they felt pain, but Farstad said "It seems to be only reflex curling when put on the hook ... They might sense something, but it is not painful and does not compromise their well-being."

The government called for the study on pain, discomfort and stress in invertebrates to help in the planned revision of Norway's animal protection law. Invertebrates cover a range of creatures from insects and spiders to mollusks and crustaceans.

Farstad said most invertebrates, including lobsters and crabs boiled alive, do not feel pain because, unlike mammals, they do not have a big brain to read the signals.

Some more advanced kinds of insects, such as honeybees which display social behavior and a capacity to learn and cooperate, deserve special care, she said.

"We have particular responsibility for animals that we have in our custody. That is not a scientific opinion, but the ethical side of the issue," Farstad said.

 

[Mojave]

...but it is not painful and does not compromise their well-being."

Does not compromise their well being? Ummm what about when you throw them in the water and drown them? Or, or when they get eaten by that big ole fish?

Give me a break. |oo Peta types at their finest.

 

[ELKCHSR]

I was thinking the same thing, these same topics seem to permeate the U.S. when they have been tried first in Europe.... Just a little FYI...

 

[Whiskers]

Thats because the Europeeins is so much smarter than us n's.

 

[Tom]

A lot of people think the nerves go first as we age, but in worms, its been shown the muscles go first. It kind of says, if we exercise and stay healthy, we'll age slower, maybe.

The guy made an error there, scewer them through the middle with a hook kind of puts a dent in their wormy activities. But, the fish eat the worm, so we do the fish some good. Right before we kill them. I guess if we throw the fish back, we hurt the fish a little with the hook, but we give them a good meal too and kill a worm.
The fish would eat on its own just fine, its a wild fish, we kill a worm. Its a net loss there, eh, the worms life is sacrificed, for what? I little sadistic enjoyment from fishing with a worm. What's the good of using a worm, if you throw the fish back? All it does is tame the fish, right? Teach them to eat off the hook, the life of Tony the tuna, poor fish. Let them be wild, no worms. What do you think?

 

[Bandit]

hmm ok well i feel bad for givin pain to poor worm but hey we need eat fish heck dont hurt fish if u pull em out ground yup anyway funny subject not like were letting horse suffer all food has pain when grinded or whatever :d

 

[ELKCHSR]

I think it would be tough to get a horse to stay on a hook, and then if you catch some thing, then what

 

[Elkhunter]

Tom, that is exactly why I don't use worms for fishing. I don't want to see them die. I use artificial lures and flies only. It is then up to the fish to decide if he really wants to try eating it. If he does and it hurts him a little it is the fishes fault only. I do release them after I have had my sadistic enjoyment though.

 

[Tom]

Just trying to get a little enlightening discussion going. Good response there, Elkhunter, pretty enlightening. Good argument for using an artificial lure or a fly. What's an argument for tempting the fish? If we don't eat them, why tempt them to hurt themselves? What's the benefit in that?

 

[Elkhunter]

Would it be better if I kept them and gave them away to someone else to enjoy? Sort of like hunters who give game meat to the needy. I actually would bring some home if I liked fish, but I can not stand to eat fish, therefore I release them for someone else to enjoy the fish at the end of the line and/or to take home for a fresh fish dinner rather than to spend precious money at some eatery which probably over charges anyway.

 

[ELKCHSR]

I like to use live bait, especially grasshoppers....
That way, one goes on the hook, and I get to eat one...

 

[Quiet_One]

oops under hubby name