Goldfish Tortured in EPA-Sponsored Public Service Announcement


Creative Commons/Andrew Pescod

Several years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a campaign called "No Attacks" in order to raise awareness about childhood asthma. One of the TV public service announcements (PSA) that was filmed for the campaign features a goldfish flopping around on a hard surface and gasping for breath. The PSA intends to make the point that an asthma attack can make a child feel like a fish who's been taken out of the water.

PETA wrote to the EPA when the ad was released, but we've received reports recently from people letting us know that the PSA is still being aired. It's also available for viewing on the NoAttacks.org Web site.

Please send a letter to Tom Kelly, director of the indoor air quality division at the EPA, and ask that he immediately pull this cruel ad from rotation on TV stations and from the Web site NoAttacks.org.

Talking Points

  • Regardless of whether or not fish handlers were present on set (as it says on NoAttacks.org), denying air to any living creature is inherently cruel—no matter how long or short the duration.
  • The goldfish in the PSA had no idea what was happening or how long he or she would be gasping for breath, so you can imagine the incredible stress that the fish endured during filming.
  • Goldfish have personalities and attributes that most people don't know about, like interesting ways of communicating with each other, forming bonds, and grieving when family members and companions die.
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