With their upcoming album entitled 'Joy,' an "older and wiser" image, and a recent concert on Father's Day in which they brought their kids out on stage to boogie down with them, who would guess that Phish would be at the center of a controversy? And they're not ... really. But that hasn't stopped animal rights group PETA from imagining one.

Unaware that the band's name was never intended to mean marine life (um, that would be spelled with an "F"), PETA has publicly asked Phish to consider changing their name ... to Sea Kittens.

In an open letter to the band, Special Projects Manager Michelle Cho writes, "We have a new campaign in which we generate empathy for fish by rebranding them as 'sea kittens'... Renaming the band Sea Kittens would be a great way to help sea kittens rock on, free from fishing nets and hooks, even if just for a day. Please let me know what you decide."

Don't hold your breath, Mrs. Cho. Considering the number of Phish fans who have already attained their masters in vegetarianism (but dropped out of college to follow the band), perhaps your sea kittens would be better off chasing after Hootie and the Blowfish. Just ask for Hootie.

(PS: There is no Hootie).