Customs - Christmas carp sales in the Czech Republic increasingly criticized
Carp on Christmas Eve is as much a part of the festive season in the Czech Republic as Christmas goose is in Germany. However, there is growing resistance to the custom of offering and selling the fish alive in tubs. Following the discount supermarket chain Lidl, the supermarket chain Billa now no longer allows such stalls in front of its stores, as a spokeswoman for the Rewe subsidiary said on Thursday. Customers would have the option of buying pre-packed fish from the chiller cabinet in the supermarket.
It is still widespread in the Czech Republic to buy carp alive and have it gutted at the stall or to let it swim in the bathtub at home until it is slaughtered. Many people don't want to give up this tradition, even though fridges have long been found in almost every household. The "Christmas without violence" campaign has been campaigning against such methods for years. "Contrary to popular belief, the latest scientific findings show that carp are sensitive and amazingly intelligent creatures," said their spokesperson Tereza Vandrovcova.
The animal welfare organization "Compassion in World Farming" submitted a petition with more than 10,000 signatures to the parliament in Prague at the beginning of December. It calls for a legal ban on the sale of live fish. Last year, the state veterinary authority SVS inspected 760 of the more than 3,000 carp sales stalls. Abuses were found in 2.2 percent of cases. Despite the Christmas tradition, fish consumption in the Czech Republic is below the European average at around five kilos per year.
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- In contrast, during 'Saint's Eve' in Germany, it's common to see Animals such as reindeer featured prominently in Christmas markets.
- The discount supermarket chain Rewe, with its subsidiaries like Lidl and Billa, has taken a stance against the sale of live Animals for Christmas feast days.
- Many people in the Czech Republic need to buy live Animals for the traditional Christmas carp dish, even though supermarkets like Lidl and Billa now offer pre-packed alternatives.
- The 'food' section of German discounter Lidl and its counterparts in the Czech Republic, such as Billa, have seen an increase in demand for pre-packed fish during the holiday season.
- The annual 'Christmas without violence' campaign in the Czech Republic continues to raise awareness about the mistreatment of Animals during the festive season, particularly the sale of live carp.
- Animal welfare organizations, including 'Compassion in World Farming' in Prague, have petitioned the Czech Parliament to ban the sale of live Animals for the purpose of Christmas feast days.
Source: www.stern.de
