This year’s Respect for Fish Day invites us to see the world through “A Fish-Eye View,” recognising fish as sentient individuals with unique perspectives, inner lives, and the capacity to suffer. In a world that treats them as commodities, we’re calling for empathy, action, and change.

Our spotlight this year is on bottom trawling. This devastating fishing practice that drags massive, weighted nets across the ocean floor, indiscriminately killing billions of marine animals, not just targeted fish, but seals, crabs, and countless others. Alaska’s trawl fleet is among the largest and most destructive in the world, threatening entire ecosystems and accelerating the climate crisis. Make calls, post on social media, and sign our alert to help end bottom trawling in Alaska and beyond.

Fireside Chat: Campaigning for Lesser-Loved Animals

Join our virtual conversation highlighting our advocacy for animals who are often dismissed or devalued, such as crustaceans, amphibians, and fish. We’ll reflect on recent campaign successes, share what’s ahead, and dive into this year’s theme: A Fish-Eye View.

Where: Online via Zoom, Register to join 
When: July 23, 4 p.m. PT

In-Person Outreach: Fun Fish Facts

If you're in the area, join us in Marin County (just north of San Francisco) or Los Angeles, California, to celebrate fishes and all marine animals!

We're hosting “Fun Fish Facts: Answer Questions, Win a Prize!” featuring engaging trivia, rewards, and education about the incredible intelligence and emotional lives of fishes. Our goal is to spark curiosity, share knowledge, and encourage compassion by inspiring people to respect marine animals by leaving them alone and off our plates.

San Francisco Bay Area

Where: Good Earth Natural Foods – 720 Center Blvd, Fairfax, CA
When: August 1, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT

Los Angeles

Where: Topanga Canyon Farmers Market – 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA
When: August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT

There are many other ways to get involved with Respect for Fish Day this year. Download our Respect for Fish Day social media toolkit, filled with ready-to-use graphics and sample posts. You can also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to raise awareness. Check out our Letter to the Editor guide or email fish@idausa.org for support drafting or submitting one. And don’t forget to sign our alerts to take quick, impactful actions for fishes.

Let’s use Respect for Fish Day to challenge harmful norms, uplift lesser-loved animals, and help build a world where fishes are treated with the compassion they deserve.