Catch-and-release

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The concept of anglers releasing the fish they catch - alive and as unharmed as possible - in order to preserve the fish as a resource. Also commonly referred to as C&R.

The practice is subject to some controversy amongst fishermen - not to mention animal rights groups. Some argue that you should kill and keep fish and that C&R is just cruel play with living creatures, while others want to pursue their favorite pastime, but do not want to destroy the basis for it - or plainly do not eat fish.

On some waters C&R is mandatory, and fish cannot be removed. This is mostly an attempt to protect the fish population. History has shown over and over again that a liberal killing of fish can completely extinct certain species from a body of water.