Belgium mulling to ban round fish bowls as Minister claims it causes stress to fish

In a unique development, authorities in Belgium are mulling imposing a ban on traditional goldfish bowls, according to Telegraph.  development comes in wake of a Belgian Minister's plea seeking ban because he believed that such bowls cause stress to fish and should be banned on animal welfare grounds and as a part of an overhaul of  animal rights laws. According to minister, Bernard Clerfayt, round tanks often have a smaller water surface area than square or rectangular ones, refore, it impacts amount of oxygen absorbed by fish. Furrmore, he added that a small surface area harms 'health and well-being of fish,' reported La Capitale.

tably, Minister of Animal Welfare of Belgium, Bernard Clerfayt, emphasized his point while drawing up a list of problematic items, he thought, were damaging mental well-being of pets. Moreover, minister will also submit same to national parliament in hope of creating a new “Animal Welfare Code.” Furrmore, Bernard Clerfayt also sought restriction of  sale of fireworks, electric collars, and glue traps to be restricted, as reported by  La Capitale.

Why Minister of Animal Welfare of Belgium wants to ban round goldfish bowls?

Belgian minister told La Capitale, “We are examining, as part of development of future Animal Welfare Code, a list of objects for which we could make a general request for a ban on marketing. For example, we kw that round jar has an impact on fish stress. Fireworks or certain types of dog collars such as electric collars also raise questions about animal welfare," he furr added.

Moreover, Animal Welfare Minister also sought federal ministers to look into imposing a ban on sale of round goldfish bowls, as an outright ban on type of aquarium equipment would require police to inspect peoples’ residences. “We are t going to start controlling size of aquarium in each household. Prohibiting sales of bowls would be much more effective," he stated.

However, bigger and different shaped tanks are considered to be less stressful for pet fish, Clerfayt told La Capitale. According to minister, Belgium’s federal government is responsible for regulating sale of goods and services in country. Clerfayt furr hoped to secure support of local ministers from French-speaking Walloon region and Dutch-speaking Flemish region to ramp up pressure on Brussels to impose a ban over sale of round fish bowls.