Organized by 19-year-old vegan activist Justice Owens, founder of Bold Activists for Animal Liberation (BAAL), and Brooklyn Fontana, the demonstrations aim to pressure the 18-year-old establishment to end what protesters describe as the "torture and exploitation" of goldfish for entertainment. The goldfish races, held almost every Wednesday night since the restaurant opened in 2007, involve participants using straws to blow behind the fish in water-filled gutters, encouraging them to swim to the other end. The winner typically keeps their fish, a practice critics argue subjects the animals to stress, pain, and potential harm.Ìý
"We’re protesting PB Shore Club because they continue to profit off of the torture of goldfish for entertainment," according to Owens. "Goldfish feel pain, and they can live up to decades, but here at PB Shore Club, they can barely survive the week."
Owens and BAAL have protested the event three times so far, asserting they have not broken any laws and are "simply speaking up for the small and the silent." However, during the most recent protest, Owens reported an incident where someone on a motorcycle maced the group.Ìý
Despite professional outreach via emails, social media, and phone calls, PB Shore Club has not responded, Owens said, noting, "They blocked us on social media, turned off comments, and are continuing to host these races." Owens suggested alternatives like arm wrestling, emphasizing, "PB Shore Club can do anything that doesn’t involve animal torture, but they continue to torture these innocent sentient beings."
The protests align with broader animal rights concerns, as outlined in a . The petition highlights that goldfish are sentient beings with pain receptors and long-term memories, citing to scientific research. It describes the races as placing goldfish in loud, stressful environments where their small size and fragile bone structure make them vulnerable to fatal trauma. The petition notes that other bars in Washington and South Carolina have discontinued similar events, and organizations like the Humane Society and PETA have denounced the practice.
The protests align with broader animal rights concerns, as outlined in a . The petition highlights that goldfish are sentient beings with pain receptors and long-term memories, citing to scientific research. It describes the races as placing goldfish in loud, stressful environments where their small size and fragile bone structure make them vulnerable to fatal trauma. The petition notes that other bars in Washington and South Carolina have discontinued similar events, and organizations like the Humane Society and PETA have denounced the practice.
On Instagram, , stating, "Fish are not decorations. They are not toys. They are not entertainment. They are sentient beings who feel pain, suffer, and want to live just like us. Yet, at Pacific Beach Shore Club, they are being tortured for goldfish races - forced into stressful, unnatural conditions, handled roughly, and treated as disposable." The post further argues that goldfish "experience stress, fear, and suffering when exploited like this," urging PB Shore Club to end the cruelty.
The goldfish races, which have been a fixture at PB Shore Club for nearly 20 years, draw criticism for prioritizing entertainment over animal welfare. Protesters contend the practice is increasingly out of step with nationwide trends, as similar events face bans or voluntary discontinuation across the U.S. and California. As the protests continue, PB Shore Club has not publicly responded, leaving the future of the races uncertain amid growing scrutiny.
The goldfish races, which have been a fixture at PB Shore Club for nearly 20 years, draw criticism for prioritizing entertainment over animal welfare. Protesters contend the practice is increasingly out of step with nationwide trends, as similar events face bans or voluntary discontinuation across the U.S. and California. As the protests continue, PB Shore Club has not publicly responded, leaving the future of the races uncertain amid growing scrutiny.
