By The Washington Times (World News) | Created at 2026-08-03 19:55:31 | Updated at 2026-08-03 20:42:54
1 hour ago
Goldfish, long plagued by the notion that they are fine living in a glass bowl until they’re discarded in a toilet drain, can now boast about being animal rights trailblazers.
An Argentinian judge last month determined that a pair of goldfish — named Fede and Magui — who lived in the aquatic facade of a Buenos Aires sushi restaurant are “sentient beings” entitled to certain rights that protect them from mistreatment, rather than property to be managed.
Fede and Magui’s constant exposure to sunlight and street noise threatened their quality of life, according to Jaulas Vacias, or “Empty Cages,” the animal rights group that argued successfully on the fishes’ behalf in court.
“Anyone passing by and stopping to look could see it wasn’t suitable for the fish,” Matias Trufero, a lawyer for Jaulas Vacias, told CNN.
The fish were moved out of the restaurant’s 10.6-gallon display case and into a 660-gallon tank at the home of Carlos Jose Aga, who works with the animal rights group.
Fede and Magui could not be reached for comment about their new digs, although the fish are likely enjoying the extra space to swim around and excrete their waste — two requirements that help prevent them from going belly up.
“Fish are like astronauts, they travel in their own environment with careful monitoring of all their vital parameters, and when they arrive at the place, those conditions must be reproduced with great accuracy to avoid imbalances that could lead to a decrease in their immunity,” Mr. Aga told CNN.
He added that Fede and Magui are doing well — or swimmingly, some might say.
Argentina has a reputation for advocating for members of the animal kingdom.
In 2014, a judge ruled that an orangutan named Sandra was a “non-human person” and that her captivity at a Buenos Aires zoo violated her rights. She was moved to an ape sanctuary in Florida.
Of course, the case of Fede and Magui means other types of fish can now point to their newfound rights and lobby for better living accommodations.
Fish owners across Argentina are advised to lawyer up.
