Apparently, we've been wrong to think for all these years that fish were dumb. The idea that fish have a three-second memory and little or no cognitive ability is obsolete, according to three experts writing in the journal Fish and Fisheries.

The researchers — Calum Brown, Keven Laland and Jens Krause — are from the universities of Edinburgh, St Andrew's and Leeds, in the UK. They claim that “Far from being instinct-driven dunces, held back by a three-second memory, fish are cunning, manipulative, cultured and socially aware” (The Scotsman, 1 September 2003). Evidence for the cognitive abilities of fish comes from observations that they can build complex nests, use tools and have impressive long-term memories. According to the Sydney Morning Herald (31 August 2003), “fish not only recognised individual shoal mates, but monitored the social prestige of others and tracked relationships”. They also cooperate when faced with a predator or potential food source.

The scientists are quoted in The Scotsman as saying, “Although it may seem extraordinary to those comfortably used to pre-judging animal intelligence on the basis of brain volume, in some cognitive domains, fish can even be favourably compared to non-human primates”. They go on to describe the “Machiavellian strategies of manipulation, punishment and reconciliation” that are used by fish in their social interactions.

Of course, none of this explains why my pet goldfish kept jumping out of its bowl...