Goldfish, long plagued by the notion that they are fine living in a glass bowl until they are flushed down a toilet, can now boast about being animal rights trailblazers.
An Argentine judge last month determined that a pair of goldfish named Fede and Magui, who lived in the aquatic facade of a Buenos Aires sushi restaurant, were “sentient beings” entitled to certain rights protecting them from mistreatment, rather than property to be managed.
Fede and Magui’s constant exposure to sunlight and street noise threatened their quality of life, said Jaulas Vacias, or “Empty Cages,” the animal rights group that argued successfully on the fishes’ behalf in court.
“Anyone passing by and stopping to look could see it wasn’t suitable for the fish,” Matias Trufero, an attorney for Jaulas Vacias, told CNN.
The fish were moved out of the restaurant’s 10.6-gallon display case and into a 660-gallon tank at the home of Carlos Jose Aga, who works with the animal rights group.
Fede and Magui could not be reached for comment about their new digs, although the fish are likely enjoying the extra space to swim around and excrete their waste — creature comforts that prevent them from going belly-up.
“Fish are like astronauts. They travel in their own environment with careful monitoring of all their vital parameters, and when they arrive at the place, those conditions must be reproduced with great accuracy to avoid imbalances that could lead to a decrease in their immunity,” Mr. Aga told CNN.
He said Fede and Magui are doing well — or swimmingly, some might say.
Argentina has a reputation for advocating for members of the animal kingdom.
In 2014, a judge ruled that an orangutan named Sandra was a “non-human person” and that her captivity at a Buenos Aires zoo violated her rights. She was moved to an ape sanctuary in Florida.
Of course, the case of Fede and Magui means other types of fish can now point to their newfound rights and lobby for better living accommodations.
Fish owners across Argentina are advised to lawyer up.
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