Animal Welfare Act

Animals like crabs, lobsters, prawns and crayfish (decapod crustaceans) face extreme pain and suffering every day. They are often torn apart and boiled alive. It is estimated that a brown crab boiled alive may remain conscious for up to three minutes, something which would be considered completely unacceptable in a vertebrate animal like a pig or chicken. Live crabs have even been found for sale packaged and bound tightly in plastic. Despite this, and despite legal recognition and scientific evidence that they can feel pain, they are not included in the Animal Welfare Act – the main piece of legislation that protects animals from suffering in the UK.

 

The Animal Welfare Act of 2006 (England and Wales) enforces a duty of care to ‘protected animals’ (animals under human control). Those responsible must take steps to PREVENT unnecessary suffering or they are liable to prosecution. It means that people or organisations who neglect or abuse 'protected' animals can be prosecuted. Farmed animals, fish and reptiles are all protected under the Act. However, invertebrates such as crabs and lobsters are not.

 

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that invertebrates can be legally protected if there is scientific evidence of their ability to feel pain. Crustacean Compassion believes that the scientific evidence is now so strong that there is no longer any excuse to delay the inclusion of decapod crustaceans under the Act.

 

It's time to Close the Loophole and include decapods in the Animal Welfare Act.