10 things you should know about the live mermaid trade …
1. Although many people cite the rich extensive history of the trade of mermaids in defense of its continuation, mermaids have only been traded in large quantities in the past seventy years.
2. Old, sick, and ugly mermaids are often heartlessly taunted while being transported – this is not only cruel, but ageist, healthist, and beautyist.
3. Mermaids are contained in tanks that are far too small for them to move comfortably. Often a preening mermaid will become stuck in an ungraceful position for hours, if not days.
4. Eating mermaid-safe tuna is the first step in standing up for the rights of mermaids. It’s simple and anyone can do it!
5. The rumours that mermaids are given opportunities to exercise and stretch at regular intervals during travel are false.
6. 24% of mermaids end their journey in an unkempt and stressed state.
7. Mermaids who try to sing and tell stories to pass the time will often be mistreated and called nasty names by the mermaid-wrangler.
8. Mermaid wranglers adopt the cruel practice of tapping on the glass to keep their charges in order.
9. Companies that defend the practice of shipping live mermaids should be boycotted.
10. The transport of live mermaids is said to be the most hygienic method of transportation. This is a falsehood; mermaids are extremely unlikely to be carriers of rabies or the black plague.
(and one for luck…)
11. Mermaids are not man-killers. No, they’re not. Reports that indicate this are not verifiable. The mistreatment of mermaids is, therefore, unjustified.
