Lawful Yet Awful: Narrating Environmental Harm In Mercy Release

This study investigates mercy release, the lawful and deliberate release of marine species into the ocean, in Hong Kong. Through ethnographic observation and qualitative research, it demonstrates that mercy release is motivated by cultural beliefs and that participants, facilitators and bystanders used neutralization techniques to justify their continued exploitation and degradation of marine wildlife. They denied causing environmental harm and felt their generosity in saving these animals had been misunderstood. All were blind to the pain and suffering they inflicted on wildlife. This study contributes to the literature on environmental harm and green cultural criminology, specifically how cultural beliefs shape people’s perceptions of the environment and wildlife. It suggests further research into blue criminology and crimes against marine species and the ocean. © The Author(s) 2025.