Funny radio story.

[Ogertron3000]

That's what I thought. So that very evening I did a bit of research and discovered it IS still legal in the UK to have goldfish as prizes at fairgrounds. Though it is banned in Scotland, good on Scotland.

One of the feeble excuses the government gave to carry on was that the moment of pleasure for a child as they discovered they'd won a new pet was priceless! WTF.

They didn't seem to get the counter argument that what about the feelings the child gets when the fish dies because mum and dad haven't got a Scooby Doo how to look after the poor creature!

But one thing that radio phone in showed me was that not all the goldfish are doomed. Sadly, the lucky fish who are actually cared for are in the minority.

Im very surprised it still happens, i guess it shows how people view fish against other animals. If they were giving away kittens and had the same mortality rate there would be outrage. We had them here when I was very very young but I havent seen it happen since the mid 80s.
I think i told my story of me and some friends drunkenly releasing some we found in a bin in a golf course dam which wasnt too smart but seemed lke a good idea at the time.
I imagine most people who win one go home then put it in a jug or something then the next day go and buy a bowl with some gravel and a plastic plant in it. The fish lives for 3 months and then dies and they think thats how it goes with goldfish. Next time the fair rolls into town they win another one and at least they have a bowl ready to go this time. The few that live the lives you mention must be the extreme minority.

 

[esoxlucius]

To us, as fishkeepers, it's right up there with the worse of cruelty to animals. We're obviously biased, but damn right at the same time. The view of, "they're only fish" is one that needs to change.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Just done some digging myself and also found that it’s still legal which blew mind as I knew it had been lobbied and voted on before. I guess I just assumed something like that would easily be passed.
About time the government started thinking like the people expect them to.
thankfully my local council do and they banned fairs from giving goldfish as prizes.

 

[esoxlucius]

We have fairs around our area once in a while, especially during the summer months. I must say I haven't seen any goldfish being offered as prizes in quite some time, so maybe, like you say, it's just a regional local council thing, or maybe, in some instances, the actual fairground people have decided to stop it.

Good on local councils, good on the fairground guys, shame on the government for not getting with the programme.