There is a silent tragedy occurring right before our eyes. Unlike all other animals, fish do not scream. They will not cry out in agony, shout for assistance, or complain about their treatment. But that does not mean that they don't feel. It doesn't mean that they don't suffer. The usual practice of keeping fish in little plastic bags, usually taken for granted or deemed normal, hides a profound and painful cruelty. In a world slowly waking up to the need for animal welfare, the case of fish is still one of the most ignored and neglected. Their silence, far from being a sign of peace, is one we have yet to detect.

Step into any pet shop, local fish market, or school fair, and you’ll likely find fish in cramped, airless plastic bags, transparent prisons that often contain little more than water and suffering. These bags are handed out casually, swung around in hands like toys, or displayed in rows, devoid of life beyond their glassy appearances. One fish, occasionally two, or more are stuffed into the small space of a bag not bigger than an envelope, with hardly any air to breathe, no room to swim, no place to lie on, and no way out.

The fact that this is acceptable is terrifying. To picture it: being shoved into a small, sealed container, not being able to move, breathe properly, or even know what is happening. That is what these fish are subjected to. And they are not just commodities or ornaments, they are living, breathing animals that can feel pain and suffering.

Scientific studies have increasingly demonstrated that fish are sentient animals. They have pain receptors, feel stress, and exhibit sophisticated behaviors including cooperation, memory, and learning. According to a 2003 study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, fish do feel pain in the same manner as mammals. They react with both physical movements and changes in behavior to noxious stimuli. But still, society uses them as if they were lifeless objects, and it does not matter to them if they are suffering or not, just because it is not audible.

One of the most brutal conditions of carrying fish in plastic bags is the complete disregard for their biological requirements. Fish need proper oxygen levels, proper temperature, room to swim, and proper water chemistry. All of this is lacking in a plastic bag. Generally, the water is not conditioned, the oxygen depletes rapidly, and temperature drops wildly, particularly in open air. Stress alone kills, even if the fish makes it through the initial transport. Most die hours or days later from the trauma and adverse conditions they have endured.

Worse yet is the delusion this is a temporary condition. People think, “Oh, they’ll be in a tank soon,” or “It’s just a short trip.” But to the fish, even a short time in a plastic bag can be an agonizing eternity. Stress hormones flood their bodies. The cramped space may lead to injuries as they bump against the bag. Prolonged exposure to their own waste, which builds up in such a small volume of water, can be toxic. These conditions are not only inhumane, they're torturous.

And what's perhaps worst of all is how normalized this practice has become. Children win goldfish in plastic bags at carnivals. Street vendors sell fish in bags like knick-knacks. Freshwater pet stores sell pricey exotic species wrapped in plastic with a grin, assuming the fish will survive "if you hurry." But substitute puppies or kittens for fish, and the uproar would be instantaneous. No one would tolerate a dog stuffed into a Ziploc. But since fish scream silently or make no visible displays of pain, their pain goes unnoticed or unobserved.

This silent brutality is not only an ethical problem, it's a moral blunder. Fish are animals. They are an integral part of the food chain. They feel, they respond, they exist. By accepting practices that use them as throwaways, we debase life itself.

Even worse is that fish happen to be among the most used animals in the world. Fishing, destruction of habitat, pollution, and the aquarium trade all contribute to fish population reduction and misery for individual animals. The aquarium trade, particularly, is riddled with exploitation. Wild fish are frequently captured employing destructive practices such as cyanide fishing, which anaesthetizes fish but destroys coral reefs. These fish, having been caught, are bunched up in plastic for hours or even days while they are transported thousands of miles around the globe. Most do not make it. When they do, they are usually discarded into neglected tanks, stored for ornament until they die from stress, illness, or neglect.

And then there are the "hobbyists" who purchase fish with no regard for their needs. Fish are thought to be simple pets, add water and voila. However, fishkeeping demands close monitoring of water parameters, diet, space, and species compatibility. Fish are not furniture. They are not starter animals. They are not toys. But the way that they can be purchased, sold, and shipped like keychains easily has made it hard for humans to see them as anything more than just that.

The consequences of this mindset go beyond individual suffering. It fosters a culture of disregard for life that can spread to other areas. When children grow up thinking it’s okay to carry fish in bags or flush them when they’re no longer wanted, we’re teaching them that some lives matter less. That silence equals insignificance. And that’s a dangerous lesson.

It's time for a cultural shift. We must begin treating fish with the same respect and empathy that we show other animals. That involves outlawing the sale of fish in plastic bags. It involves tightening regulation on the aquarium trade. It involves educating consumers—children in particular—about the responsibilities of fishkeeping. But most of all, it involves acknowledging fish as sentient creatures whose inability to scream does not preclude their capacity to suffer.

Progress. There are already indications that things are changing. Some cities and states have begun legislating against the use of fish as prizes at the fairgrounds. Pressure is being brought to bear for improved animal welfare legislation that extends to aquatic animals. More and more scientists are coming forward about the intelligence and complexity of fish behavior. But we have a long way to go.

Individuals can make a difference. If you notice fish sold in bags, say something. Encourage pet shops that utilize appropriate transport containers. Educate family and friends. Refuse to participate in events or markets where fish are considered throwaway products. Take empathy over convenience.

And if you ever catch yourself observing a goldfish flailing within a bag, just remember this: just because it is silent doesn't mean that it isn't in agony. Just because it is tiny doesn't mean that it doesn't count. And just because we have made something commonplace doesn't mean that it isn't immoral.

The sea is full of voices, loud ones, quiet ones, and silent ones. But all of them need to be heard. Fish can never scream, but that does not mean that we should not hear.

Their lives are not ornaments. Their lives are not shows. And their pain, though silent, is genuine. It's time to shatter the silence. It's time to care.

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