What's the problem?
Decapod crustaceans like lobsters and crabs were recognised under law as sentient in April 2022, but they still have very little protection in place to stop inhumane suffering.
One law that offers protection – The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (known as WATOK) – states an animal may not be killed in a way that causes avoidable pain, distress or suffering. Also, anyone killing an animal must have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so humanely and efficiently.
When we submitted a Freedom of Information request to all 32 London boroughs, only 25 replied and we found many did not recognise that they had enforcement responsibility. One council, Kensington and Chelsea, claimed decapods are not covered under WATOK. This just isn’t true.
The only council that appeared to be up to date with this law, Hammersmith and Fulham, has eight staff members working in the Food Safety Team and recognised that its Animal Welfare Charter “is in need of review going forwards.”
It is highly unlikely that the average consumer buying a live crab or lobster can kill them at home in a way that causes no unnecessary suffering, considering it can take between four and eight minutes for a lobster to die when boiled alive. This suffering has to stop.
If you live in London, you can help. You can write to the Leader of your council here – ask them to admit they can’t enforce WATOK for decapods and to support our call for a ban on the sale of live decapods to the public.
Can Decapod Crustaceans actually feel pain?
Yes, an official government report put together by a team of expert scientists was published in November 2021 with the clear conclusion that animals such as crabs, lobsters, prawns and crayfish (decapod crustaceans) are capable of feeling pain. Read more.
The author's central recommendation is:
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"We recommend that all cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans be regarded as sentient animals for the purposes of UK animal welfare law. They should be counted as "animals" for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and be included in the scope of any future legislation relating to animal sentience."
