Picture_2.png“Would people think twice about ordering fish sticks if they were called sea kitten sticks?”

That is what PETA wants fish to be called from now on: sea kittens. This is to make the eating of fish—pardon, sea kittens—seem less appealing. Their website has been accordingly infantilized. You can even create your own sea kitten, giving it a tiara, or a litterbox, or an elephant disguise, or leather chaps (I think).

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Delicious sea cat (Ictalurus punctatus) courtesy of Cornell University.

48 replies on “Today in Stupid: Sea Kittens”

  4. Who ORDERS fish sticks? Fish sticks are purchased frozen, cooked at home, openly fed to children, and secretly snacked upon by adults. They are not ordered in restaurants.

    (As a vegetarian, sometimes I miss fish sticks. Though I think that has more to do with my love of tartar sauce than any desire to eat crappy, fried, frozen fish.)

  5. “Would people think twice about ordering fish sticks if they were called sea kitten sticks?”

    No. Not only would I not think twice about ordering a basket of sea kittens, I wouldn’t think twice about ordering sea babies, sea bunnies, or a nice plastic basket of deep-fried blastocysts, as long as they were actually made out of breaded whitefish.

  6. Sounds like sushi tonight!

    I like my sea kitten nice and RAW!! I also like to pet them just before killing them and having some fresh sushimi!!

  8. What if the PETA campaign backfires, and it makes everyone think it’s ok to eat actual kittens? Then those PETAphiles will feel sorry they messed with our language, I’ll bet. But it will be too late.

  10. I thought Sea Kittens was the label for those large-breasted women in bikinis who always seem to adorn power boats belonging to douchebags.

  11. Jesus, PETA is caught in the same downward spiral that transformed MADD from “let’s tighten up a few laws and makes the highways safer” into the teetotaling fuckwits they are today.

    It’s disappointing, they’re the most publicized (and wealthy) animal rights group out there, who is unfortunately working very hard to discredit themselves every chance they get.

  12. I love PETA.

    They’re like what Sarah Palin wishes she was: someone you never stop talking about, whose enemies are always tied in knots, and who wins at the polls. How do they do it?

  19. Has anyone ever been convinced or swayed in any way by PETA? They’re not just wasting time preaching to the choir… they’re wasting time and money pissing off the heathens… Such a strange group of people.

  21. @19

    PETA scares the crap out of agribusiness. Probably because Prop 2 passed in California, after a similar law passed in freaking Arizona a year earlier. In spite of opposition by the unions, the NAACP and other African American organizations, and of course, big money from the corporations. In a year when everyone was terrified about economic insecurity. So, yes, they sway people. Donations to PETA continue to rise.

    How did your initiatives do in California this year?

  25. You know, these would sell like hotcakes in Japan if they were called Sea Kittens ….

    And suburban moms everywhere would buy them in droves here in America!

  27. will @25:
    “these would sell like hotcakes in Japan”

    ummm, yeah but, do hotcakes really sell that well in Japan?

    & suburban moms buy pretty much everything in droves, it would seem.

  38. You know if they were just a little more honest and called Fishsticks “Shit they scooped off the floor and fried” it might be more effective.

  40. Does it have big, soulful eyes and soft, fluffy fur? Will it playfully bat around this ball of yarn? No? Then hell yes, I’d eat it.

  44. FYI, if you click through their “sea kitten” site you can send an email to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to get them to stop people from fishing. I used their mail service to send the following email and encourage you all to do the same.

    Dear US Fish and Wildlife Service,
    I’m sending this from PETA’s website. I think PETA is a bunch of loonies to start with but this may be the most idiotic thing they’ve ever done. Please, for the love of god, ignore this ridiculous campaign. Personally whether they’re called fish, sea kittens or babies on a stick I’m still going to eat them. Let’s not give any credence to these morons.
    Colin

  45. elenchos, i’d be interested to hear your defense of this particular campaign—or whether you think the content doesn’t matter as long as it gets attention. It just is so absurd, intellectually bankrupt, &etc.

  47. I’m a veggie eating no meat except Sea Kittens… So I guess the PETA people should hunt me down for being a cold sea kitten eater.

    Johauna.

  48. Well, if you are put off by the idea of “Sea Kittens” try the new craze….
    Land Fish!!!

    Formally known as kittens,these delightful and plentiful creatures are full of protien and are a quik and friendly meal.

    Here is my favorite recipe for Beer Can Land Fish

    1 Land Fish “Cat”

    1 Can of beer (any brand)

    1 tsp garlic powder

    1 tsp onion powder

    1 tsp salt

    1 tsp ground pepper

    1/2 tsp chili powder
    Mix spices and rub over cat. Drink half the can of beer and then place beer can into rear of Land Fish and stand Land Fish tripod-like on BBQ. Rotate in 30 minutes. Cook for a total of one hour.

    Smoke flavouring helps.

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