Fishman

***" Do you know the difference between you and I? It's our species! This is the strength of the fish-men species from birth. Heaven gave us the power to separate us from you. So we are different! Humans are lower and weaker since the day they were born. " - Arlong***

## Fishman

Best example of a Fishman would be Arlong from the source material

## Stats

### Also Called

* Fierce Warriors of the Sea (Some Legends)
* Dirty Fish (World Nobles and Civilians alike)

## Summary

Fishman is a sort of broad term, as there are the generic Fishmen, as well as merfolk. Fishmen are one of two main humanoid races that inhabit and rule the seas (along with humans). Fishmen are incredibly loyal to their cause, and following their own sense of morality. Usually, like humans, Fishmen will do anything to accomplish their goals. Fishmen are commonly seen discriminated against and sold as slaves on sea level. Due to this mistreatment, some Fishmen are very ruthless and mean to humans, feeding into the stereotype, while others try to establish peace among both races, though not really accomplishing anything in the long run.

## Overall Appearances

Fishmen are more fish-like than merfolk, usually looking like a combination between a man and a fish or other aquatic creature, such as an octopus, manta ray, or sawshark; however, they still have legs. They also have gills between their shoulders and necks, sometimes covered by their clothing, as well as often having webbed hands (or Claws, in Parker's case). Depending on species, they may even have multiple limbs (mainly extra arms).

In the Merfolk's case, their upper half is that of a human while the lower half is that of a fish or other undersea creature. While the males, referred to as mermen, keep their tails intact their whole lives, the females', referred to as mermaids, tails split when they turn 30, allowing them to walk on land more easily. Like the fish-men, they are based on the different fish of the sea.

For fish-men pirates in pirate crews that are primarily fish-man based (Sun Pirates, Arlong Pirates, and New Fish-Man Pirates in the source material), it appears customary to have that crew's jolly roger tattooed somewhere on the person's body, showing allegiance to a crew.

## Biology

Fish-men have gills near their necks, which only work when they are in water. On land, they can breathe with their lungs like humans do. However, their gills cannot breathe in air, like a normal fish cannot breathe in air through their gills.

Even though fish-men are part fish (or at least closer to fish biologically than human) and have been considered such by prejudiced humans in the past, they are still mammals and give birth to live young. Fishmen are also able to modulate the sounds that they make, enabling them to speak in the same language as humans. Fishmen, generally speaking, have the ability to talk to other animals such as whales, showing that a fishman's larynx may be far more adaptable and capable of more than a human's. There are many merfolk who bear physical traits normally unique to fishmen. Furthermore, fishmen can sometimes demonstrate powers usually unique to merfolk, such as Jinbe's ability to communicate with whale sharks.

Even with merfolk and fishmen in the same immediate family, the primary species (merfolk or fish-men), subspecies (type of fish) and appearances may differ drastically. This is a result of them still carrying the genes of their ancestors, so the appearance is not determined only by the parents, their traits can come from anywhere in their ancestry. Humans, fishmen, and merfolk have the same blood types, and can donate blood if the types match.

If a fish-man were to eat a Devil Fruit, they, like anyone who partakes of the fruit, will lose their ability to swim forever. They will still be able to breathe underwater, though they will be unable to move while in it.

## Relations with other Humans

Fishmen typically consider humans to be an inferior, weaker species. However, this does not apply to all fishmen. Many, if not most, of the fishmen state that the majority of fishmen believe humans are a violent and dangerous race who discriminate against fishmen. They believe any members of their species who have attempted to negotiate with or challenge humans have been defeated solely for the crime of being a fishman.

Meanwhile, humans define both fishmen and merfolk as "fish" instead of "men". This led to centuries of discrimination as the fishmen fought to prove their worth to the world. Despite attempts at reconciliation, relations remained strained for centuries. Many humans continued to see fish-men as freaks or slaves just to be used. Such bad relations between the races would influence certain sects of fishmen, and these fish-men would even go so far as to return to the humans what had been done to them. This was seen in the source material with Arlong Park in East Blue, where Arlong attempted to enslave the humans as they had enslaved his men and succeeded in doing so for eight years.

Despite the harsh relationships between races, hybrids with humans do appear from time to time. Typically when humans are found to be engaged with a fishman, they are either exiled, ran out of their country, or even executed along with the Fishman. Life outside of their native homeland, Fishman Island, has been filled with strive for the species.

## Power of the Fishman

From birth, fishmen are physically ten times as strong as normal humans. This difference is magnified underwater, where a human's power is cut in half, while fishmen are not only completely unhindered, but are even strengthened. The fishman race can be considered unstoppable in battle while in their natural habitat, the sea. As expected, they are excellent swimmers, and are capable of swimming through the water at a great speed and force. However, their speed is no match for the merfolk, who are the fastest swimmers in the world. In addition, they can still talk under water and cannot drown. However, breathing air into their gills makes them suffer like a normal fish would. While they can use their gills to breathe in water, they have to switch back to their lungs to breathe in air.

Like merfolk, fishmen also possess the ability to communicate with sea creatures. In particular, fishmen seem adept at communicating with large sea monsters, and possess a unique capacity to bring out the primal rage in such creatures. The animal being influenced has to be at least somewhat willing to comply. Just as with normal merfolk, fishmen are still unable to communicate with Sea Kings.

The Fishman Dojo of Fishman Island teaches the martial art Fishman Karate, which a number of fishmen have displayed skill in. This fighting style in particular has both land and sea based attacks, a style suited to the fishmen's advantage in the water, but does not leave them completely unable to defend themselves on land when they have to. The style allows the user to manipulate water, including the moisture in the air and the water inside of peoples bodies. Their most effective weapon is the sea itself, as the most powerful fighters can take a few drops of water and hurl it so hard that the impact is as hard as a bullet. To this extent, in the hands of a powerful fish-man, even a small splash of water becomes a lethal weapon.

Fishmen often have unique abilities, matching those of the species they are based on, that make them further superior to ordinary humans outside of the physical strength difference. For example, if one was an octopus fishman, having multiple arms would make you easily a better combatant against a two-armed foe.

Fishmen who eat Devil Fruit and are rendered unable to swim must wear a bubble to compensate. However, their water-based abilities prove helpful considering that in water, most Devil Fruit users are rendered completely powerless.

As mentioned by Jinbe, fishmen can change the course of sea currents and even generate a maelstrom when they fight seriously.

## Beliefs

Fishmen's view of life under the sea is dominated by their belief that they should rule over all other fish. They also hate humans for the years of oppression and slavery that they suffered. This is not shared among all fishmen, though. Sadly, due to the long-term neglect in the Fishman District, this hatred has been passed down to future generations.

Many fishmen, particularly pirates, also adorn symbols across their bodies to represent their group association.

Due to Fish-men and Merfolk giving birth to children who get genetic traits from their distant ancestors, and thus usually not looking anything like their parents, they aren't surprised by the appearances of others, no matter how bizarre. It also doesn't make sense to them when people discriminate against others just because of how they look.

## Trivia

* The first Fishman we see in OPD&D is none other than PC Parker Nepelican
* The Arlong Park arc, the arc that introduced Fishmen into One Piece, is Owlcityofcl's 2nd favorite pre-timeskip arc, with the 1st being Marineford
* Most "evil" fishmen still eat fish, even though they are kinda related, while the "nicer" fishmen stay away from any type of seafood at all costs
* (NONCANON) The "Uncool" Octopus Guy got mistaken for a Fishman at the VIP Party on Brewski Island, to which he immediately declined and felt grossed out that someone would say that about him