Animal welfare groups are deploring the sale of live goldfish keyrings being sold as unofficial Olympic souvenirs in the Chinese port city of Qingdao, describing the sales of such merchandise as "shocking".
Animal welfare groups are deploring the sale of live goldfish keyrings being sold as unofficial Olympic souvenirs in the Chinese port city of Qingdao, describing the sales of such merchandise as "shocking".
Traders along the waterfront in Qingdao, where the Olympics sailing events are slated to take place this summer, are selling the novelty keyrings (or keychains).
A live goldfish is sealed inside a heart-shaped plastic bag on which one of five mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games is printed on one side.
The goldfish do not have any room to swim and a very limited supply of oxygen in the sealed bag, dooming them to certain death.
According to a spokesman for the RSPCA, "The fish would have little oxygen available and it would be impossible to feed the fish."
"The fish would survive just a few hours, and would be lucky to make it from the manufacturers to the point of sale."
"This product shows a shocking lack of respect for a living thing and should be withdrawn from sale."
"We are shocked and appalled. It is a gimmick and shows no respect for the animals at all."
"We can't understand why anyone would want to buy such a thing."
The RSPCA has said that it would appeal to the Chinese authorities to crack down on the sales of the keyrings.