The Fight to End This Carnival Cruelty

By Conner Tighe

Every year, millions of fairgoers flock to carnivals and county fairs, drawn by games, rides, and sometimes, the chance to win a live fish as a prize. While it might seem like a harmless souvenir, giving away fish at these events is a serious problem. Many of these fish suffer from stressful, unsafe conditions and often face premature death due to a lack of proper care. Beyond animal welfare, this practice poses risks to local ecosystems when unwanted fish are released into the wild. As awareness grows and laws begin to change, it’s time to take a closer look at why fish should no longer be used as carnival prizes — and what we can all do to help put an end to this practice. 

Why It’s a Problem 

A. Welfare Concerns 

Giving fish as carnival prizes puts these animals through a stressful and often deadly ordeal. At fairs, fish are typically kept in small, inadequate containers without proper water treatment or temperature control. Fairgoers, excited by their new prize, are frequently unprepared for the responsibility of caring for a living creature. Many place fish in tiny bowls without water conditioner, leading to poor water quality and rapid health decline. While some species can live up to 15 years with proper care, many prize fish perish within days. During the event itself, fish are often carried around for hours in hot conditions, baking in the sun or being jostled as their owners move between games and rides, adding to their stress and suffering. 

B. Environmental Concerns 

When fish prizes become unwanted, a common but harmful response is to release them into local waterways. This practice poses a serious threat to native ecosystems. Non-native fish can compete with local species for food and habitat, disrupt the balance of aquatic life, and introduce diseases. Invasive fish populations can be devastating to biodiversity and challenging to control once established, making the release of non-native fish a significant environmental hazard. 

Legislative and Policy Context 

Recognizing the welfare and environmental issues tied to giving away live animals as prizes, several states and cities have taken legislative action to ban the practice. Vermont, Massachusetts, Iowa, and South Carolina have laws prohibiting animals, including fish, from being offered as prizes at carnivals and fairs. More recently, Connecticut passed legislation in 2024 that makes it illegal to give away any animals as prizes, explicitly including fish. 

On a local level, Berkeley, California, has an ordinance (10.12.235) that specifically bans awarding fish as prizes at fairs and similar events. These legal measures reflect growing public concern and set important precedents for other communities to follow. Such laws aim to protect 

animal welfare and prevent the ecological risks associated with releasing unwanted prize fish into the wild. 

Case Study: Impact of Betta World For Bettas

Recent efforts by Betta World For Bettas have shown how public awareness and strategic action can lead to real change. 

In 2024, Betta World For Bettas documented the use of live fish as prizes at the San Mateo County Fair, sharing footage and information across social media. The public response was swift and critical, prompting fair organizers to revise their vendor contracts. As a result, the updated policy now explicitly prohibits vendors from awarding live fish as prizes. 

A similar outcome followed in 2025 after the group documented the same issue at the San Joaquin County Fair. Once again, public pressure led organizers to commit to banning the practice in future vendor agreements. 

Now, attention has turned to the Alameda County Fair, where the practice of giving away fish as prizes has continued. A growing coalition of concerned citizens, including a local high school’s animal welfare club, has joined the fight, issuing an open letter to the fair’s organizers and circulating a petition demanding change. The momentum continues to build, showing that community-led advocacy can drive institutions to adopt more humane and responsible policies. 

What You Can Do to Help 

Ending the practice of giving fish as carnival prizes starts with awareness and action. Whether you witness it firsthand or want to support broader efforts, there are several ways you can make a difference: 

● Document and Share: If you see fish being given as prizes at a fair or carnival, take a clear photo or video of the event. Share it on social media and tag the event or organizers to raise public awareness. 

● Contact Organizers: Reach out directly to the event’s management. Express your concerns about the welfare of the fish and the potential environmental impact. Politely request that they revise their vendor policies. 

● Start or Sign a Petition: Use platforms like Change.org to create or support petitions calling for local fairs to stop allowing live animal prizes. Grassroots pressure can be very effective. 

● Write an Open Letter: Collaborate with local animal lovers or organizations to draft an open letter to fair organizers or local officials. Highlight the ethical and ecological reasons to end the practice. 

● Advocate for Local Legislation: Contact your city council members and push for an ordinance banning animals as prizes. Use Berkeley’s ordinance (10.12.235) as a model. 

● Report Incidents: Betta World For Bettas is actively collecting reports. You can document cases through their form or email them directly at bettaworldforbettas@gmail.com. 

● Get Help Strategizing: If you want to take further action but aren’t sure where to start, reach out to Betta World For Bettas for guidance on building an effective campaign. 

Every action, no matter how small, can contribute to a growing movement for more compassionate and responsible treatment of animals.

This article was written by Conner Tighe.