Two fishermen in Switzerland have been convicted of animal cruelty for brutalizing a huge catfish for hours instead of killing the fish immediately after catching it in an animal welfare manner. Kevin W. and Samuel S. had specifically hunted big fish using an echo sounder. They also have a YouTube channel where they report on their catches – the bigger the better…
At the beginning of August, the two fishermen (30 and 34 years old) went to Lake Greifen in Switzerland and looked for big fish with technical support. When the depth sounder finally turned on during the night excursion, the two of them pulled out their bait. When the two-meter-long catfish bit, an hours-long tug-of-war with the fish followed.
Hours of torture instead of quick murder
According to a report from a fishing website, the two then decided to “land the fish gently on the shore” because they were afraid the catfish would capsize their boat. But the ‘landing’, i.e. pulling the fish out of the water, was anything but ‘gentle’ and not ‘suitable for animal welfare’, as a Swiss court has now ruled.
Catfish that are still alive are dragged along the boat
As evidenced by two legally binding criminal orders from the See/Oberland Public Prosecutor’s Office, after several hours of fighting, the men tied the catfish to the boat with a rope that they pulled through the mouth area between the cheeks and the first. gill arch and dragged the still living fish onto land. This ordeal again lasted several hours, the “NZZ” reported.
Under fishing rules, the two YouTube fishermen should have killed the fish immediately after catching it in a “fair manner” with a nail gun, ax or hoe – or released it back into the wild. Instead, they took selfies with the fish and only handed the animal over to a professional fisherman in the early morning hours.
‘Catch and release’ would be allowed
According to the Public Prosecution Service, it was possible at that time to return the fish to the lake, both for ecological and legal reasons, because the animal was still strong. However, the two hobby fishermen claim to have known nothing about this, they say. This despite the fact that one of the two even describes himself on social media as a ‘professional fisherman’.
The two were under the impression that under no circumstances was it prohibited to return a fish caught in Switzerland. The Public Prosecution Service therefore accused the two men of having paid too little attention in advance to the laws that applied in Switzerland.
Fine and entry on the criminal record
In any case, the two hobby fishermen had regularly hunted “big fish” such as large catfish and pike in the past and had the corresponding experience. According to the Public Prosecution Service, they could have expected to catch a large catfish but, contrary to their duty, they did not have tools to stun and kill fish of this size.
In any case, the verdict was clear. The two were fined, one 938 euros, the other around 4,000 euros. They must also pay a total fine of 1,770 euros and the costs of the procedure. A note was also made on the criminal record. However, the question is whether this will deter “fish influencers” from such actions.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
