PETA offers to help pay for Belfast Big Fish repairs — but wants vegan plaque installed

Animal rights organisation PETA has reportedly offered to contribute towards repairing Belfast’s damaged Big Fish sculpture, where damage has been estimated at more than £10,000.

According to reports, the offer comes with a condition: PETA wants an educational plaque installed beside the landmark encouraging visitors to consider the treatment of farmed salmon and choose a vegan lifestyle.

The proposal follows significant damage to the landmark’s left eye during an incident at Donegall Quay in the early hours of Sunday, 20 September.

PETA reportedly makes offer following damage to Belfast landmark

Animal rights organisation PETA has reportedly offered to contribute towards the cost of repairing Belfast’s famous Big Fish sculpture.

According to reports, the proposal has been made following extensive damage to ceramic tiles surrounding the landmark’s left eye.

The repair bill was estimated in court at more than £10,000.

However, reports suggest PETA’s offer comes with an unusual condition.

The organisation reportedly wants an educational plaque installed beside the Salmon of Knowledge encouraging visitors to consider the treatment of salmon in fish farms and promoting a vegan lifestyle.

The proposal is understood to have been addressed to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

The Department for Communities is responsible for the landmark and said following the incident that the artwork would be covered while options for its repair were considered.

What would PETA’s proposed plaque say?

According to reports, PETA wants a plaque placed beside the sculpture drawing attention to the treatment of salmon raised in fish farms.

The reported proposed wording includes:

“As you admire this salmon, spare a thought for the millions who are confined and killed on fish farms each year. Please choose kindness. Go Vegan.”

PETA reportedly argues that the symbolism of the Salmon of Knowledge makes the Belfast landmark an appropriate location to raise awareness about fish welfare.

The organisation is also reported to have raised concerns about overcrowding, disease and parasites in salmon farming, as well as potential environmental impacts.

PETA UK campaigns for people to stop consuming animal products and adopt a vegan lifestyle.

According to reports, PETA vice president for vegan projects Dawn Carr said adding the plaque could help deliver a message of kindness towards fish.

More than £10,000 damage caused to Belfast’s Big Fish

The proposal follows an incident in the early hours of Sunday, 20 September, when significant damage was caused to the left eye of the Big Fish.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers received a report at around 12.30am that someone had been seen damaging the sculpture in the Donegall Quay area.

Police attended and found significant damage to the left eye.

A 44-year-old man was subsequently located nearby and arrested.

Northern Ireland Online reported on the incident shortly after it happened.

Read: Man arrested after Belfast’s Big Fish significantly damaged

Police later confirmed that a man had been charged in connection with the incident.

Read: Man charged after damage to Belfast’s Big Fish sculpture

Man remanded in custody following Big Fish damage

Peter Luke Smith, 44, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 21 September.

According to subsequent court reporting by UTV, he was remanded in custody on a criminal damage charge and three counts of possessing items with intent to damage property.

The items involved were a hatchet, hammer and sledgehammer.

The court heard that ceramic tiles surrounding the sculpture’s left eye had been smashed.

A police officer told the court that the damage had been estimated at more than £10,000.

Smith was remanded in custody to appear again by videolink on 19 October.

As court proceedings remain ongoing, the charges remain subject to the legal process.

Department considering repairs to the Big Fish

Following the damage, the Department for Communities said it was disappointed by what it described as needless vandalism of the Salmon of Knowledge.

The damaged section was subsequently covered to protect the artwork while repair options were considered.

According to reports, PETA has now offered to contribute towards those repairs if its proposed educational plaque is installed beside the sculpture.

Northern Ireland Online has not independently confirmed whether the Department for Communities has accepted, rejected or formally responded to the reported proposal.

What is Belfast’s Big Fish?

The Big Fish, officially known as the Salmon of Knowledge, is one of Belfast’s most recognisable landmarks.

Created by Belfast artist John Kindness, the approximately 10-metre-long sculpture was installed at Donegall Quay in 1999.

According to Visit Belfast, the sculpture is covered in printed ceramic tiles featuring text and images relating to Belfast’s history.

The tiles contain historical material, photographs and other images documenting the city.

A time capsule containing information, images and poetry about Belfast is also held inside the sculpture.

The Big Fish has since become one of the best-known landmarks along Belfast’s waterfront and a popular stop for visitors to the city.

You can find more attractions and visitor information through Visit Belfast.

PETA raises concerns about salmon farming

According to reports surrounding the proposal, PETA also raised wider concerns about commercial salmon farming.

The organisation reportedly said millions of salmon are kept in fish farms and raised concerns about overcrowding, disease and parasites.

It also highlighted potential environmental issues involving waste, chemicals and escaped farmed salmon interacting with wild populations.

These arguments form part of PETA’s wider campaign against the consumption of fish and other animal products.

Whether the Department for Communities will accept the reported financial offer or agree to the proposed plaque has not yet been confirmed.

What do you think?

Would you support PETA contributing towards the Big Fish repairs if an educational vegan plaque was installed beside the sculpture?

Or should the Belfast landmark simply be restored to its original appearance?

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