INTRODUCTION

Animal Equality's aim is to raise public awareness on the suffering and exploitation of animals, exposing the industries to reveal what really goes on. We propose effective solutions to break down prejudice and discrimination against other animals.

WHAT IS THE SLAUGHTER OF CARLOFORTE?

Each year, between late May and early June in Carloforte - off the coast of the most populated area of the island of San Pietro, south-west Sardinia - hundreds of bluefin tunas are caught in traps or ‘tonnaras’ as they migrate to specific breeding grounds. The ‘tonnaras’ is a complex system of nets in which the tunas are trapped and then slaughtered. Thousands of individuals suffer terribly and die during what is commonly known as ‘the tuna slaughter of Carloforte’.

The tunas in the Mediterranean Sea are mainly caught by mobile traps, although traditional fixed traps are still used in the tunas slaughter of Carloforte.

As the tunas migrate during the breeding season, they are forced to swim through a system of fixed nets which lead into a number of enclosed areas. They pass through these net corridors and then finally reach an area called the 'killing zone', where the animals are crowded together and then slaughtered. This is carried out to the cries of 'Kill!' shouted by the ‘Rais’ (a word that has Arabic origins and refers to those responsible for the management of the killing). Thus begins the massacre of tuna who are pushed upward by mobile nets in the 'death zone'. The tunas are forced to the water surface. The tunas crash into each other violently due to a lack of space and water until they are exhausted whilst being forced to the water surface. Inevitably they get injured in this process and, shortly afterwards, are harpooned. The moment that follows, whereby hundreds of terrified, dying individuals are thrashing around in the water, is horrific.

STAGES OF RESEARCH

During a careful and painstaking investigation, Animal Equality has recorded and photographed the plight of these tunas during the killing at Carloforte. Their sad fate is:

• Capture: once 'assembled' in the 'death zone', the 'tonnara', or mobile nets, slowly push the tunas towards the water surface. The frantic and panicked tunas are stacked on top of each other.
• Slaughter: Whilst crowded together, the animals thrash violently and the killing starts. The tuna, struggling in vain, are violently struck with harpoons, one after another, and left choking and dying.
• De-boning: Once the tuna are on land, they are hung on hooks and the body parts that are deemed unusable for human consumption are removed.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

• Unnaturally high densities of tuna at the catching stage presented a significant stressor to individual animals.
• Fish were dragged from the ocean with giant sharp metal pick hooks and brought on-board ships.
• Extensive tissue damage was caused by the piercing, blunt hooks, and this is likely to have inflicted acute pain on the fish, who were still alive and conscious.
• The suspension of the tunas’ body weight caused the further tearing of tissues as a result of gravity working against the hook.
• The struggling, frantic movements of the tuna whilst suspended in the air indicated that the fish were in pain and stress.
• Fish were observed being repeatedly stabbed with knives in the thoracic (chest) region and major arteries, causing death via exsanguination.
• Animals were slaughtered in the presence of conspecifics which is likely to cause additional stress.

Reviews and evidence of the suffering of fish

The research of Animal Equality revealed scenes of suffering, pain, and physical and psychological violence. The suffering that these animals endure in the nets is extreme. Their migration to spawning is interrupted by the presence of nets; disoriented animals begin a desperate and hopeless search for an escape. In their attempt to free themselves, the tunas’ scales are hooked onto the nets, hurting the animals.

The killing involves many individuals and so the nets become more and more crowded. In the 'death zone', the animals’ nightmare comes to a head. Scared and thrashing individuals violently injure themselves, the sea turns red and the animals begin to run out of oxygen. When they are exhausted, they rise to the surface where the 'tonnarotti' are waiting for them with hooks. The tunas are hooked onto these and transferred to waiting boats, whilst they suffocate and bleed to death.

Fish are sentient beings, capable of feeling pleasure, fear, pain and many other sensations other animals are capable of. Many scientific studies confirm this. For example, Huntingford (2002) stated that fish have pain stimuli and brain mechanisms to cause physical reactions.

Huntingford, F. A. (2002). Welfare and aquaculture. European Aquaculture Society Special Publication. 32:52-54.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

The slaughter of Carloforte is a cruel tradition, based on the suffering and agony of thousands of individuals. Putting a stop to all of this is possible, by being proactive and showing your opposition to such a violent and senseless practice.

• Share videos and photos of our research with friends, family and colleagues. You can do this through social networks, or by sending them the investigation findings via email.
• Sign the petition demanding the abolition of the tuna slaughter of Carloforte.
• Be part of the change and make a difference by adopting a lifestyle that does not involve the exploitation and suffering of animals, for more information visit chooseveganism.org

• Home
• Photos
• Videos
• Experts
• Report
• Media center
• Become a member
• Take action
• About us