Hi there, sorry if this is has been asked before but I'm interested in your thoughts in regards to 'traditional' food harvesting methods. My father catches fish on a line in a tinny and we eat that, hes only allowed 5 fish I think. I think this is *ethical* as it's very primitive way of harvesting food, also recreational fishing is super super strict. And our neighbours rear chickens in her yard (about 5), we get eggs off them as well. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

@Anonymous

Hiya. Well I’m not the vegan police but I really don’t see any form of killing as being ethical. Fish have a nervous system and there’s been studies showing that they feel pain. If I was a fish I wouldn’t want the end of my life to involve having a hook through my mouth and then being suffocated as I am being dragged out of the environment that enables me to breathe. 

I also don’t like contributing to the overfishing that is happening - whether that be 5 fish or 500, my conscience feels better if I’m not part of the reason that certain fish are becoming endangered or the ecosystem in the ocean is getting all messed up. Fish are needed in the sea to keep everything in balance - they’re not ours to take. Besides that, I really like fish and hurting them would make me feel awful.

Reading over what you’ve written I’m not really sure you understand the ethical values of being vegan. It’s not about regulating quantities of dead beings - it’s about causing as little harm as possible. In whatever way we can. There isn’t a kind way to end another being’s life. That being said, many people have emotional ties to their “traditions” and it can become a heated topic when it’s brought up with them (particularly with people like your dad (presumably) where it’s a big part of their lifestyle and personal history). 

As for chicken’s eggs - I guess it just comes down to chickens not being there for our own purposes, whatever is theirs isn’t ours to take. I’ve read that chickens have been known to eat their own eggs and whereas I’m not sure this is true, or common, I’d prefer to just not eat them myself. I mean  this is all besides the fact that an egg is a chicken’s ovulation material which icks me out.

I hope that sheds some light on a different viewpoint :)