January 15, 2002
William Morrissey, Director
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Parks and Recreation Division
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Mr. Morrissey:
On behalf of PETA’s more than 750,000 members and supporters, as well as thefish, birds, and
other animals that make Minnesota state parks their home, we respectfully request that fishing
be banned in all Minnesota state parks. According to an article in U.S. News & World Report
(“Parks in Peril,” July 21, 1997), the park system is bending under the pressure of
encroachment, underfunding, overcrowding, and pollution. Eliminating fishing and its harmful
effects would take some of this pressure off of the parks and their inhabitants.
The violent process of fishing and its consequences do not complement the peace and
tranquility of a state park. As you know, fish have a neurochemical system like ours and thus
the brain capacity to experience fear and pain. Fish who are torn from the water suffer from
being impaled, thrown, stepped on, or mutilated while alive. Many die slowly and painfully from
suffocation.
Fishing has other victims, too: In one case among many, a young bald eagle was found by the
National Park Service, near death because of injuries to his feet caused by fishing line that had
cut through his flesh, resulting in a systemic infection and intense suffering. He required
intensive daily care for three months before he was successfully released. Not all animals are as
lucky. Millions of birds and other animals suffer, and many die, from injuries caused by discarded
fishing hooks, monofilament line, lead weights, and floats. Animals who become entangled in
fishing line are often trapped underwater and drown or, unable to feed, die slowly of starvation.
In fact, many wildlife rehabilitators tell us that fishing litter is the single greatest cause of injuries
to aquatic animals.
Minnesota state parks have traditionally made the compassionate choice to ban hunting, and we
are asking you to take the next step. Fishing is just hunting in the water. The tide is turning on
sportfishing with the widespread recognition of the sentience of fish and the desire to live a
more compassionate, less harmful life. After reading the enclosed materials, we hope you will
make the decision to ban fishing in Minnesota state parks and turn them into true havens for all.
Please contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for
your consideration.
Sincerely,
Dan Shannon
“Fishing Hurts” Campaign
Thought everyone would like to see this crap. I found it on muskie central, it is supposed to be from the MDNR website.
