Respect for Fish Day, celebrated annually on August 1, was created by In Defense of Animals to honor fish and all aquatic animals, raise awareness about their plight, and speak up for them. This year, our campaign amplifies one of the most misunderstood and threatened fish species, the shark, and educates on why these remarkable animals deserve protection and respect.

Fish have been shown to possess intelligence and emotional complexity comparable to many land animals. They experience pain, fear, and stress when caught on hooks, trapped in nets, or stabbed by fishing practices. Research has shown that fish have sophisticated nervous systems, pain receptors, and the capacity for suffering. They also display advanced cognitive and emotional abilities, such as recognizing individual faces, remembering past experiences, forming social bonds, and maintaining long-term relationships.

Fishing is unnecessary for the vast majority of humans. Leading nutrition experts state that those with access to a balanced plant-based diet can thrive, yet fishing continues to inflict suffering and violence on sentient beings. Billions of fish are unintentionally killed each year as “bycatch” in fishing operations targeting tuna, salmon, and other species, along with hundreds of thousands of sea turtles and many thousands of marine mammals, including seals, whales, and dolphins. Shark and ray populations have declined by about 71% globally since 1970, and fishing is the primary driver.

See our 2026 actions, join us for a live webinar on shark activism with three leading experts, sign our alerts to save sharks, and discover our other initiatives and resources to amplify the right of all aquatic animals to be free from harm by humans.

2026 Events

In-Person Action: Protesting the LA Pet Fair

On July 11, 2026, we co-hosted a protest at the LA Pet Fair in solidarity with Rescue Not Retail, Animal Alliance Network, Los Angeles Animal Defense League, Orange County Animal Liberation, and Betta World for Bettas. Advocates wore fish costumes and distributed In Defense of Animals flyers to raise awareness that fish and all animals deserve to be rescued, never bought. They shared adoption resources while exposing the suffering endured by animals captured, bred, transported, and sold through the pet trade. Many fish, birds, reptiles, and other animals die before arriving at pet expos due to unhealthy conditions and extremely cramped confinement.

Exploitation can never be humane.

Join Online: Virtual Expert Panel: Sharks & Aquatic Animal Activism

Join our eye-opening webinar discussion about the threats sharks face and why their protection matters so urgently. This essential event will dispel harmful myths and emphasize how defending these magnificent animals is essential for their survival and protecting our oceans and all marine life.

Date and Time: Thursday, July 30, 2 p.m. (PT)

Featured guests:

Skyler Thomas

Skyler Thomas is a filmmaker, activist, and educator focused on ecological purposes. With over 30 awards for his independently produced films, including Great White Lies, Monsters, Balance, and The Shame of Point Reyes, he also delivers marine biology presentations that emphasize shark conservation. He holds an MFA in Digital Media, a BA in Liberal Arts, a California Teaching Credential, and an AS in Natural Science and is currently pursuing an MS in Ecology and Evolution.

Joey Szalkiewicz

Joey Szalkiewicz is a wildlife cameraman and environmental filmmaker who began filming Great White Sharks in Santa Barbara as a college intern. His underwater work has since taken him from a cage at Guadalupe Island to diving among pelagic sharks and manta rays in Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago. Through his Santa Barbara–based production company, Filament Media, he directs character-driven wildlife films focused on non-lethal coexistence and environmental action.

Spencer Roberts

Spencer Roberts is a marine ecologist, environmental journalist, and PhD candidate at the University of Miami. His work is published in outlets like The Intercept, The Nation, WIRED, and Science Advances. He directs Fish Defender, an organization of divers and scientists working to advance protections for marine wildlife across the United States.

Sign up to join live. If you can’t attend, a recording will be emailed a few days later to everyone who registers.

Sign Our Urgent Alerts To Save Sharks

• Stop the SHARKED Act to prevent more shark killings in the U.S.: sign here.
• Speak up to End Shark Nets in Australia: sign here.
• Act now to Prevent New Shark Nets at Club Med in South Africa: sign here.

Get More Resources

• Discover the sentience and intelligence of aquatic animals.
• Watch the powerful shark advocacy documentary, Monsters, directed by Skyler Thomas, a featured speaker in our Sharks & Aquatic Animal Activism webinar.
• See and download our fish brochures, The Planet’s Most Abused Animals Can’t Run or Scream, and Adopt Don’t Shop.
• Participate in our Respect for Fish Day campaign.
• Learn about the nutritional benefits of plant-based eating and the ethical urgency of being vegan for all aquatic and land animals.