Fish liberation

Last sunday, i was invited to join in a grp fish-liberation ! TF was one of e key organisers :)
There were ~7bumboats which traveled from changi jetty to a kelong (fish farm on stilts) about 30min away... & we bought S$5000+ of fish & lobster.
A group of monks & nun, performed prayers for the animals, & they were transfered into tanks in the bumboats & brought about 20min away from the kelong & returned to e sea to Freedom.

This practise of animal liberation .. i had someone say this e day b4 i went on this trip, & i sure couldnt think of a good reason,

1) how much does e animal benefit ? e fish returned to sea may just in the next moment be food to another. The sea is a dangerous place..

2) Economically, it doesnt quite make sense.
Buying & releasing fish would increase demand for more. Kelong & fisherman would just catch more & its the same! Your time & effort may be spent to help other charities!

Post kelong trip, this is what i learnt :
1) the animal liberation is in fact, an act that benefits the 'liberator' as much as it benefits e 'liberated'.
*The feeling of having done good, to have had the power to free some creatures (from the nets of the kelong & foodtanks in seafood restaurant), has a very liberating effect on the spirit.
*Also, in the case of fish that has been caught & retained at the kelong, they have a 2nd chance of freedom & momentary primitive 'happiness', despite the dangers of the sea.
*A lot of parents also brought their children along, & it is a good value to teach young children, do good & rescue life.

*Ah, but for the deeper thinker who considers more, & find fault in the imperfection of this freedom, it is important to find a balance to appreciate the merits from the act.

Personally, i do not think i will be a strong convert to fish freeing (kelong way), and if there is freeing, it would be something much more personal & which i am more convinced of a happy next phase.
I could rescue ants from drowning in the kettle, say 'mantras' to captive animals(esp live feed like fish in seafood restaurants, pet feed like worms & crickets, chicken in a factory coop) and if ever there is a creature i can really help & give a good home, i will try my best. I would rather lobby for animals to be more humanely treated, and encourage spending on that (for eg, to avoid battery eggs, & go for free-range, where at least the animals have a better live). The challenge is someone has to do that, & also it is more 'complex' that just taking a boat out to buy fish & drop them into the ocean, & most ppl naively(in a good & not so good way) feel very good about that. That's my 2cents worth.

Last take, freeing fish is a meritorous deed, and for the avenues of charity that we have in singapore now, it is what we can make do best, which is what matters - to benefit beings.
i would like to think of this moment, of e fish & lobsters happily munching algae at e bottom of a seabed, with e free-spirit ;)