Around 6:30pm on May 28, diners at Pacific Beach Fish Shop at 1775 Garnet Avenue were met with a group of protestors chanting and holding signs reading "Fish Shop Will Flop Unless The Races Stop", "Fish Feel Pain" and "Animals Are Not Ours To Use For Entertainment." According to a witness, the group entered the restaurant and refused to leave, prompting staff to attempt to remove them before police arrived.
"After about 10 minutes, three police vehicles showed up and the protestors moved outside," the witness said. "By the time we left, it looked like they were staying outside the restaurant."
While Pacific Beach Fish Shop is not known to host live animal events, it shares some ownership ties with the nearby PB Shore Club, the bar and restaurant that has become the central focus of an ongoing controversy surrounding its weekly goldfish races. The races, a two-decade tradition at PB Shore Club, involve participants using straws to blow behind goldfish in water-filled gutters to make them race - a practice that activists argue is cruel and outdated.
Wednesday's demonstration was a continuation of the efforts led by Bold Activists for Animal Liberation (BAAL), a group organized by 19-year-old vegan activist Justice Owens and Brooklyn Fontana. BAAL has staged multiple protests in front of PB Shore Club since early 2025, aiming to shut down what they describe as animal exploitation masquerading as entertainment.
While Pacific Beach Fish Shop is not known to host live animal events, it shares some ownership ties with the nearby PB Shore Club, the bar and restaurant that has become the central focus of an ongoing controversy surrounding its weekly goldfish races. The races, a two-decade tradition at PB Shore Club, involve participants using straws to blow behind goldfish in water-filled gutters to make them race - a practice that activists argue is cruel and outdated.
Wednesday's demonstration was a continuation of the efforts led by Bold Activists for Animal Liberation (BAAL), a group organized by 19-year-old vegan activist Justice Owens and Brooklyn Fontana. BAAL has staged multiple protests in front of PB Shore Club since early 2025, aiming to shut down what they describe as animal exploitation masquerading as entertainment.
"Over the past four months, we’ve gathered more than 1,200 petition signatures and been assaulted five times while peacefully protesting for animal rights," said Owens. "We’ve reached out to Billy Ramirez directly and even tried delivering a letter, but he refused to accept it. Since we’ve received no response, we’re now protesting all of his establishments - and anyone affiliated with him - until the goldfish races end. All we want is for this cruelty to stop."
The PB Shore Club has yet to publicly respond to the criticism or media inquiries, and has reportedly blocked activists on social media. Meanwhile, the weekly fish races have continued, despite mounting scrutiny, a Change.org petition, and pushback from national animal welfare organizations like the Humane Society and PETA. After the initial protest at Fish Shop, the group reportedly moved their demonstration to the coastline in front of PB Shore Club, continuing their efforts to raise awareness about animal cruelty in hospitality-based promotions.
As the debate over animal welfare and entertainment intensifies, this latest protest underscores a growing cultural divide - one that challenges long-standing traditions in light of evolving public consciousness about the treatment of animals. For now, the races continue, but the message from activists is clear: this issue is far from over.
The PB Shore Club has yet to publicly respond to the criticism or media inquiries, and has reportedly blocked activists on social media. Meanwhile, the weekly fish races have continued, despite mounting scrutiny, a Change.org petition, and pushback from national animal welfare organizations like the Humane Society and PETA. After the initial protest at Fish Shop, the group reportedly moved their demonstration to the coastline in front of PB Shore Club, continuing their efforts to raise awareness about animal cruelty in hospitality-based promotions.
As the debate over animal welfare and entertainment intensifies, this latest protest underscores a growing cultural divide - one that challenges long-standing traditions in light of evolving public consciousness about the treatment of animals. For now, the races continue, but the message from activists is clear: this issue is far from over.
Originally published on May 29, 2025. Photo from Grace Harrah.
