Ethics are tricky, and I would say that there is no doubt humans are very inconsistent with it regarding the rest of the animal kingdom. Our perception of ethics relating to other mammals, versus almost any other classes of animals, can be dramatically different. We often anthropomorphize animals and judge them on very superficial levels, and can be completely ignorant of consciousness and/or intelligence that is alien to us (i.e. cephalopods)
But yes, at a higher level, I think we have to agree that cnidarian versus a vertebrate have big differences, without diving too deep into biology. But even then, we fall victim to just scale; do we treat that little amphipod/copepod the same as a crab? We can only do our best to be humane and judge how that relates to the animals we are providing husbandry for.
Even the most ardent environmentalists can be pretty ruthless when it comes to a topic like invasive species.
It's complicated
But yes, at a higher level, I think we have to agree that cnidarian versus a vertebrate have big differences, without diving too deep into biology. But even then, we fall victim to just scale; do we treat that little amphipod/copepod the same as a crab? We can only do our best to be humane and judge how that relates to the animals we are providing husbandry for.
Even the most ardent environmentalists can be pretty ruthless when it comes to a topic like invasive species.
It's complicated