Conger cuddling cancelled
A charity skittles game - in which humans are the pins and the ball is a dead conger eel tied to a rope - has been banned after animal rights activists complained that it was disrespectful to eels.According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, the charity event of "Conger Cuddling", which has taken place for the past 30 years in Lyme Regis harbour in Dorset to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), has been cancelled this year after the RNLI received complaints from an animal rights group.
During the event, a number of people stand on blocks of wood and have to dodge a 150cm/5' long Conger eel, Conger conger, swinging at them on a rope. The team who has the most members still on their flowerpots at the end of the game wins.
"The writer of that letter is a gutless troublemaker with nothing better to do..."According to The Daily Telegraph, the animal rights campaigners complained to the RNLI and threatened to film the event and start a national campaign against it.
Chairman of the Lyme Lifeboat Guild, Rob Michael, told The Daily Telegraph: "We have been advised by the RNLI headquarters at Poole to abandon the Conger Cuddling event following a local complaint from animal rights activists.
"The RNLI is not prepared to be involved in an event that may be seen by some to be a barbaric throwback due to its use of a dead animal."
But, the event may still go ahead, albeit with a rubber buoy replacing the usual Conger, says the report.
The mayor of Lyme Regis, Ken Whetlor, told the paper that the complainant was a "gutless troublemaker with nothing better to do than stop people enjoying an innocent event that helps raise money to save lives."
"I cannot see how using a dead conger eel landed by a local fisherman is unethical," said Mayor Whetlor.
Conger eels are one of Britain's largest marine fishes and may reach lengths of up to 3m/10' and weigh over 100kg.
Small ones are found in rocky areas around much of the UK but larger fish tend to occur in deeper water, often around wrecks. The species is a popular fish with anglers.
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Matt Clarke: 29.7.2006Views: Read 7,548 times
Comments feed
"I'm glad they cancelled it. As a society we are incredibly wastefull of the sea's natural resources, but that is not an excuse to waste any more.
If this had been done with a dead wild land animal there would be an outcry, and rightly so. Just because this is a sea creature doesn't lessen our duty to treat it with respect.
If people want to give money to the RNLI they will do so no matter what the event involves. "
Date: Wednesday August 2nd, 2006, 1:14 pm
"It's a rather pathetic idea for a charity event. Couldn't they think of anything better to do to raise money?. What a lack of intelligence and imagination. "
Posted by: Peter Chadwick - 3 years, 3 months agoDate: Wednesday August 2nd, 2006, 8:31 pm
"Tradition, tradition, tradition It is a dead conger eel and it is being put to good use by raising money for charity Conger eel's are the most dreadful foodstuff and I can think of no better use for one of these beasts than raising money for charity. Even more so as it is helping save the lives of tourists who complain about country ways until they need help , I only hope those involved never require the help that the RNLI so kindly provides 24 hours a day."
Posted by: Myles Roberts - 3 years, 3 months agoDate: Wednesday August 2nd, 2006, 9:58 pm
"If this event took place using a 'spare' conger eel, caught for sport, and wasted otherwise; then this is perefectly OK. Its a use for a carcass, I wouldn't object if any animal was used in such a way (provided it was done without being too gruesome). My only objection would be if the eel was caught specifically for the event, thats wrong.
Also, to the mayor; thats a very dis-respectful comment for a person in your position, please improve your people skills."
Date: Friday August 4th, 2006, 1:28 pm
"Obviously the complaint made about the use of the dead conger to raise cash for an Institution which is staffed by volunteers, who are regularly putting their lives at risk to save lives at sea in all weathers was made by someone who has probably only recently moved to the area as this has been going on for a time and only now a complaint is made.
I am an Angler and a Fishkeeper i have caught Congers and a 5ft conger is nothing to be sniffed at and for someone to willingly stand there to be hit with it to raise much needed funds for the RNLI i take my hat off to them.
I have lived by the sea all my life and have been fortunate not to have had to call out this Esteemed rescue service,
In closing the conger is dead it has probably been donated for the event because it wasnt sold at market or it was surplus to requirement, so would the person who complained like to put their hand in their pocket and give the RNLI the money they could of raised by this event I BET THEY WONT "
Date: Thursday August 10th, 2006, 7:42 pm
"I can see why many think the ban to be a complete waste of resources, the pathetic actions of a few deranged lunatics. Certainly, when taking into consideration the amount of fishing that takes place each day, it's nothing.
But, what if a dead puppy or kitten was being used instead of an eel? The same people would be horrified. Just because a fish might not be "cute", doesn't mean that it has no right to respect. "
Date: Saturday August 12th, 2006, 2:47 am
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 | Editor-in-Chief, Matt Clarke, writes the regular Interesting Imports column on rare and unusual fish in the UK aquarium trade. He's kept fish for 30 years and holds a degree, two higher degrees and two diplomas in fish biology, taxonomy and computational biology. |
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"How can using a dead fish to raise money for charity be looked down upon ? every day tons of dead fish are thrown back into the sea because they are too small to be sold under EU laws. There are worm charming events, crab catching, Horse racing events all over Britain to raise money for charity are they to be stopped ?
Posted by: Myles Roberts - 3 years, 3 months agoHow sad that the RNLI a dedicated force is treated like this by "animal rights activists" i only hope those involved never require the help of the RNLI .
shame on you for doing this to such hard working people "
Date: Sunday July 30th, 2006, 12:59 pm