The Nashville Predators are in trouble with PETA for throwing catfish on the ice. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent the organization a letter to request fans be prohibited from tossing a fish. PETA called the act “insensitive” and said “fish are capable of feeling fear and pain.” However, one thing PETA fails to realize is that the catfish thrown onto the ice is already dead. PETA offered the Predators 1,000 plastic fish to toss onto the ice instead, which is totally lame.
Below is the letter PETA sent the Predators.
Dear Messrs Cigarron and Poile:
I’m writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters—including thousands across Tennessee, with many sports fans among them—in response to reports that a catfish was thrown onto the ice during your game yesterday, November 25, against the Los Angeles Kings, and that catfish have been thrown onto the ice at other games in the past. We encourage you to prohibit fans from throwing fish—dead or alive—onto the ice in the future and have a proposition that would help make this a win-win situation for both animals and Predators fans.
Whether you want to think about it or not, fish are sentient beings, capable of feeling fear and pain. It’s no more acceptable to harm them than it is to harm any other living beings. Please, won’t you prohibit fans from engaging in such insensitive acts?
We’d be happy to send you 1,000 plastic fish that you could distribute to guests at Bridgestone Arena. Fans could use them in a harmless, fun way to celebrate their team’s success without making light of cruelty to animals. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Colleen O’Brien
Senior Director of Communications
PETA
The catfish throw is a tradition for the Predators and its fans. Fans smuggle a catfish into the game and when the Predators are playing well, it will be thrown onto the ice. The Tennessean’s first account of a catfish throw is in an October 30, 2003, game against the Detroit Red Wings, mimicking the Motor City’s octopus toss. From then on, the catfish toss has been an iconic symbol for the franchise.