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Responses to frequently asked questions
AVMA 2009 Annual Convention opening session
Pike Place Fish Market team building presentation
July 1, 2009
Questions directly related to the presentation
Q:What is this team building presentation about?
A:This team-building presentation features the Fishmongers from the Pike Place Fish Market; John Yokoyama, owner of the fish market; and their longtime coach from bizFutures Consulting, Jim Bergquist. They engage their audiences in a conversation regarding what's possible at work, using questions like "What's possible when you are inspired?" "What's possible when you love what you do?" and "What's possible when you have a bigger purpose for your work and for life in general?" A wide range of participants from diverse fields have come away from these presentations with powerful insights that generate success in their workplaces.1,2,3
Q:What value do we expect this will bring to veterinarians?
A:Veterinarians work in a variety of practice situations, from private clinical practice to corporate America. Similarly, the messages conveyed by the Pike Place Fishmongers during their presentations resonate in a variety of work environments.
The philosophy the Fishmongers bring to attendees is simple: "We do our best work when we enjoy the environment we work in and feel like we make a difference. Therefore, we need to find ways to make our work environment the absolute best it can be." Because better work environments encourage teamwork and improved decision-making, for veterinarians this translates into better patient care. And, of course, better patient care is what the AVMA and its members are all about.
Q:Why would a speaker use dead fish as part of their presentation?
A:Because moving fish is part of the daily work in a fish market, the "toss" is used to illustrate how routine tasks in a market environment can be either an unpleasant chore or an opportunity for team building and customer participation.
Q:Are the fish "tossed" in the presentation alive or dead?
A:All the fish used during the presentation are dead.
Q:Is fish "tossing" an appropriate use of fish?
A:Presentations by the Pike Place Fishmongers use audience engagement to convey important messages about teamwork and improving the work environment. In the Pike Place Fish Market, Fishmongers "toss" fish to move them efficiently from one point to another. During their presentations, the Fishmongers use the "toss" to illustrate the concept of teamwork as experienced by the Fishmongers.
Q:Are the fish used in the demonstration wasted?
A:No. The fish used in the Fishmongers' presentations are subsequently consumed, either by people or by zoo animals. The disposition of the salmon used in the Opening Session of the AVMA Convention is therefore similar to that of any other farmed or wild-caught salmon. Interestingly, some individuals have suggested there may be some extra value gained from their use as part of an educational and motivational activity.
Q:Would other animals be used in a similar way?
A:While most veterinarians and other people we have spoken with are comfortable with how the fish are being handled during this event, we also know that many people would not be comfortable with handling other dead animals (e.g., dogs, cats) in the same way.
The different types of attachments people form with different types of animals influence their opinion as to how those animals should be treated, including after death. Societal perspectives change over time, but currently there is a general respect for and comfort with how the Pike Place Fishmongers handle the fish (and other seafood) both in the market and off-site during their presentations.
Some other questions we've been asked
Q:Do fish have "animal welfare"?
A:There is considerable debate about how fish experience their environment and whether they consciously experience suffering. It is reasonable to propose that some types of fish can experience some types of pain.4,5 Even when this is not the case, fish can be understood to have "welfare" in the sense they may be cared for either well or poorly. They are animals that should, while alive, be treated humanely and with respect for their species-specific needs.6
Q:Is salmon fishing cruel?
A:Some people do not support the raising and/or capture of animals for food and consider this process to be inherently cruel. Other people believe fisheries are the heart of coastal communities and a necessary and humane industry. Due to this range of opinions, we understand that not everyone will wish to participate in an event that involves handling slaughtered fish.
Q:Did these fish die from suffocation or bludgeoning?
A:Salmon are acquired from farms or from the wild and are transported in water-filled tanks or nets to commercial slaughter facilities. Modern facilities stun the fish prior to slaughter. Stunning may be accomplished by chilling; exposure to CO2, electricity, or an anesthetic; or a sharp blow to the head. Salmon and other fish are increasingly handled and regulated in the same way as other livestock, including the development and implementation of welfare standards both within the industry and by external agencies (e.g., Freedom Foods).
Q:Were the fish used in the presentation subjected to severe decompression when they were caught, and did their swim bladders rupture as a result?
A:Although some individuals and organizations have expressed concern about this in communications to the AVMA and in their public statements, the truth is that Atlantic salmon dwell near the surface of the water7 and, therefore, do not experience decompression (or subsequent bladder rupture) during capture.
Q:Are there animal welfare concerns related to Atlantic salmon?
A:Concern for an animal's welfare is an important part of the responsible care and use of any animal. On-going welfare challenges with salmon include disease prevention and treatment, stocking density, human handling during size grading, transportation, and refinement of stunning methods.8,9,10
References
1 Yokoyama J, Michelli JA. When Fish Fly: Lessons for Creating a Vital and Energized Workplace from the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market. 2004. Hyperion.
2 Smith M, Brege D. 2007 ARNA convention: a resounding success. Radiol Nurs 2007;26:6567.
3 Springer Pence ME. Gone Fishing. About Campus 2007;July-August:2426
4 Braithwaite VA, Huntingford FA. Fish and welfare: do fish have the capacity for pain perception and suffering? Animal Welfare 2004;13:S87-S92.
5 Sneddon LU. The evidence for pain in fish: the use of morphine as an analgesic. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2003;83:153-162
6 Hastein T, Scarfe AD, Lund VL. Science-based assessment of welfare: aquatic animals. Rev Sci Tech Off int EPIZ 2005, 24, 529-547.
7 Johansson D, Ruohonen K, Kiessling A et al. Effect of environmental factors on swimming depth and preferences of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and temporal and spatial variations in oxygen levels in sea cages at a fjord site. Aquaculture 2006;254:594-605.
8 Animal welfare aspects of husbandry systems for farmed Atlantic salmon - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, Question number: EFSA-Q-2006-033 Available at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902014109.htm Accessed June 8th, 2009
9 Wilkinson RJ, Porter MP, Woolcott H et al. effects of aquaculture related stressors and nutritional restriction on circulating growth factors (GH, IGF-I and IGF-II) in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Comp Biochem Phys A 2006, 145, 214-224.
10 Ashley PJ. Fish welfare: current issues in aquaculture. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2007;104:199-235.
This information has been prepared as a service by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Welfare Division.
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