Point is though that a priest over the head,chances of living nil.
Other options and some care,odds of living are a little better and if they do die they are in the food chain.
agree with lowrider there, at least if you put a fishback you have tried to do the right thing, even if it goes belly-up it is still in the food chain.
However must say that some people's oppinoins regarding killing fish a bit annoying ,if you have a moral, or any other problem with the killing or possibly injuring of anyfish, then sea-angling just aint the sport for you.
noticed Alot of threads on this site re the conservation of fish , but most of us try our best, (often in terrible conditions) to tempt those same fish to swallow a beautifully presented bait, mounted on a super sharp hook so we can drag them 60 yards through kelp & rocks, so we can then smack them over the head with a blunt heavy instrument or snap there necks, gut,fillet usually freeze & then eventually eat them! not very fishy friendly but that is fishing!
as for the lad returning the dog fish, that was entirely up to him, presume he would have already have known his club rules before fishing the comp. but he did what he thought was right, even though dogfish aren't exactly a reveered species.
my own opinion is that catch & release has got to be the way forward, keeping anything in size that you want for the table. Just need to be able to trust your fellow anglers........