{"id":293302,"date":"2026-07-11T17:59:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T17:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/293302\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T17:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T17:59:09","slug":"nyc-councilwoman-eyes-eliminating-live-fish-as-prizes-at-carnivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/293302\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Councilwoman eyes eliminating live fish as prizes at carnivals"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Queens pol <\/a>is pushing new legislation to ban giving away live fish as novelty prizes at NYC-based fairs, carnivals and other festivals.<\/p>\n

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino\u2019s bill<\/a> especially targets the longtime carnival practice of awarding goldfish to winners of Ping-Pong toss and similar carnival games. <\/p>\n

The fish are typically handed out in small plastic bags.<\/p>\n

Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino is pushing new legislation that would ban giving away live fish as novelty prizes at NYC-based fairs, carnivals and other festivals. Paul Martinka<\/p>\n

Many animal-rights groups \u2014 including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals \u2014 vehemently oppose the giveaways because they believe it subjects fish to extreme stress, shock and oxygen starvation and frequently results in death even before the winner gets their prize home.<\/p>\n

Event organizers violating the proposed measure, which Paladino (R-Queens) introduced on June 30, would face a $100 fine for a first offense and up to $2,000 for repeat offenses.<\/p>\n

Paladino decided to make a splash on the topic after a group of twisted teen boys attending a carnival in late May hosted by St. Luke School in Whitestone went out of their way to win goldfish just to torture them, said the pol\u2019s chief political strategist and son, Thomas Paladino Jr. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was ugly,\u201d recalled the younger Paladino, claiming the kids flung and \u201cstomped on\u201d the fish, and pulled their fins to make some teenage girls squeamish. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this may seem like a small issue in a city facing many challenges, this incident made clear that live animals should not be treated as novelties or prizes,\u201d the councilwoman wrote June 1 on Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey deserve humane treatment and responsible care. No animal should be subjected to cruelty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of an Instragram post Paladino fired off in June explaining her reasoning for seeking to ban live-fish prizes. Instagram \/ Councilwoman Vickie Paladino<\/p>\n

St. Luke School did not return messages. <\/p>\n

Councilman Frank Morano, a Staten Island Republican, said he\u2019s backing the bill because it\u2019s about protecting animals, not spoiling the fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a small but sensible animal-welfare reform that brings a little more humanity to how we do things in New York City,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to give out prizes at fairs or street festivals, there are plenty of better options: stuffed animals, gift cards, toys, or even tickets and vouchers.<\/p>\n

The bill especially targets the longtime carnival practice of awarding goldfish to winners of Ping-Pong toss and similar carnival games, typically handed out in small plastic bags. Alexis C Glenn\/UPI \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything but a living animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the bill is approved, NYC would join a growing list of jurisdictions that already ban the practice, including the states of Connecticut and Iowa and the city of Berkeley, Calif. <\/p>\n

New York State prohibits giving away most live animals as prizes \u2014 except fish and purebred livestock such as cattle and horses.<\/p>\n

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