Animal rights activists are calling for the Welsh town of Aberaeron to replace its annual mackerel festival with a celebration of cabbage.
The town, at the close of the fishing season, hosts a mackerel fiesta described as a "light-hearted funeral" for the fish. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has proposed that the event be transformed into an "animal-friendly" and "kinder" cabbage fiesta.
In a letter addressed to Lloyd Thomas, president of Aberaeron Yacht Club, Peta suggested swapping "fish-focused festivities for an animal-friendly celebration of Welsh produce." The group offered to provide organizers with a giant papier mache vegetable to substitute the traditional mackerel.
Peta urged Thomas to "let fish off the hook and transform the Aberaeron Mackerel Fiesta into a kinder event," suggesting that "celebrating life-giving plant produce rather than fish slaughter would be more in line with the compassion and warmth Wales is known for." The animal welfare group also highlighted the potential of such a fiesta to support local cabbage farmers.
However, local councillor Elizabeth Evans responded that fishing is an integral part of Aberaeron's heritage, while "the growing of cabbages is not."
During the existing mackerel festival, a large papier mache mackerel is paraded through the town before being blessed and burned at sunset. Peta hopes their suggestion will inspire Aberaeron to "turn over a new leaf and let mackerel swim free."