Spotted in Macau’s Senado Square recently: A pair of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists dressed as mermaids, aiming to discourage the eating of fish, in a campaign timed with China's annual October holiday.
China is the world’s top producer and consumer of seafood, while PETA is an animal rights campaigning body known for its ability to generate publicity as well as its support from celebrities.
According to a PETA statement, the mermaids – who drew plenty of attention from tourists and passers-by – “helped people understand that fish are intelligent animals who experience fear and distress when they’re hooked or netted and pulled from the water.”
Senado Square is a focal point for tourism in the city, which is also home to the world’s biggest casino industry, thanks to mainland Chinese visitors. The scantily clad protestors were probably an extraordinary sight for many of those visitors, since Chinese authorities place onerous conditions on the operations of international NGOs in mainland Chinese territory.
