Argentina court declares goldfish as 'sentient beings,' not just property, in landmark case

Goldfish, long plagued by the notion that they are fine living in a glass bowl until they are flushed down a toilet, can now boast about being animal rights trailblazers.

An Argentine judge last month determined that a pair of goldfish named Fede and Magui, who lived in the aquatic facade of a Buenos Aires sushi restaurant, were "sentient beings" entitled to certain rights protecting them from mistreatment, rather than property to be managed.

Fede and Magui's constant exposure to sunlight and street noise threatened their quality of life, said Jaulas Vacias, or "Empty Cages," the animal rights group that argued successfully on the fishes' behalf in court.