Fishing trip turned Paul McCartney vegetarian

Paul McCartney arrives at the High Court in London February 14, 2008. McCartney says he turned vegetarian on a fishing trip when he realized that the fish's life was ''as important to him as mine is to me.''

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Former Beatle Paul McCartney says he turned vegetarian on a fishing trip when he realized that the fish's life was "as important to him as mine is to me."

McCartney, 65, posed for a photograph for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organization accompanied by the words: "I am Paul McCartney and I am a vegetarian".

It also features the quote: "Many years ago, I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realized, 'I am killing him -- all for the passing pleasure it brings me.'

"And something inside me clicked. I realized as I watched him fight for breath, that his life was as important to him as mine is to me."

PETA's Web site also features pictures of other celebrities, including Alicia Silverstone, Forest Whitaker and Joss Stone as part of its vegetarianism campaign.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)