

Fish illustration by Matthew Cole/Shutterstock

When a human life is lost on city streets, often times memorials spring up, from makeshift tribute collages of photos, candles, and flowers, to the more fully-realized plaques and signs. So do thousands of fish merit the same civic attention? Yes, says an Irvine woman, who is asking the city to memorialize hundreds of fish killed in a traffic accident.

The accident, which took place October 11, involved a truck carrying 1,600 pounds of live fish and several tanks of pure oxygen crashing with two other vehicles at Walnut and Yale avenues. "The oxygen was used to keep saltwater bass alive as the fish were being taken to market," explains the OC Register. What kind of market? Well, those fish were actually destined to be meals for hungry humans; as L.A. Now further explains, the truck was headed to a Ranch 99 supermarket.

Now Dina Kourda has contacted city maintenance officials on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), looking to have a sign erected at the site reading:

"In memory of hundreds of fish who suffered and died at this spot." Kourda is a volunteer with the animal rights activist organization.

From Kourda's letter:

"Research tells us that fish use tools, tell time, sing, and have impressive long-term memories and complex social structures, yet fish used for food are routinely crushed, impaled, cut open, and gutted, all while still conscious. Sparing them from being tossed from a speeding truck and slowly dying from injuries and suffocation seems the least that we can do."

It's a non-traditional request, but so far seems like one Irvine isn't really considering. Craig Reem, a spokesman with the city of Irvine, told the L.A. Times: “I do think it’s fair to say we have no plans to erect a memorial."