One of Crustacean Compassion’s key aims is to make the case for improving protections for decapod crustaceans and this means trying to strengthen the protection they receive in animal welfare legislation. To achieve this, we meet with MPs, local government and other policy makers on a regular basis to discuss ways to improve the policy and practice of crustacean welfare. For the past month we have been across the country doing just that – at political party conferences, parliamentary receptions and an Animal Sentience Committee special event.
Westminster
This week, we attended a special event hosted by the Animal Sentience Committee. This was our first time meeting the committee, who were formed following the passing of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. It is their responsibility to review and report on policy decisions that have an impact on the welfare of all sentient animals. One such report published just this week, where they reviewed whether the government considered the welfare of animals as sentient beings within the Online Safety Act, noted the inconsistency of decapod crustaceans not being protected under the Animal Welfare Act.
“The ASC notes an inconsistency in the protection afforded to sentient invertebrates. Cephalopods and decapod crustaceans are considered sentient under the Animal Sentience Act but not covered by the Animal Welfare Act (2006). Online content depicting their unnecessary suffering (for example, eating of live octopus) will not be illegal content. The ASC recommends that officials and ministers take appropriate steps to resolve this inconsistency.”
We wholeheartedly agree with this, which is why one of key asks is for the government to close the loophole and extend the Animal Welfare Act to include crustaceans.
Animals Matter
Last week, we attended the Animals Matter Parliamentary Reception held by our friends at the RSPCA, Humane Society International / UK, Four Paws and Compassion in World Farming.
Parliamentary receptions are a great place to speak to MPs and civil servants in an informal setting, sharing our priorities for the coming year and building alliances for our campaigns. This Animals Matter coalition event, hosted by Ruth Jones MP, was an opportunity to call on the Government to produce a comprehensive animal welfare strategy that will improve the lives of billions of animals. Over 80 MPs attended this event and plans to create three news bills to protect animal welfare were announced. It is so important to see such a strong show of support for animal protection. Bravo to all who attended!
Credit: Nacho Rivera
Party Conferences
Earlier in the autumn we were at the Party Conferences, with an exhibition stand at the Labour Conference in Liverpool 22 - 25 Sep, before a visit to the Conservative Conference in Birmingham 29 Sep - 02 Oct.
With a General Election originally expected in November, most people assumed the Labour Conference would be the last push towards the Labour manifesto and a chance to speak to those who would be seeking to get elected. After the snap election happening in July, however, Labour is now back in government after 14 years, with the public impatient to see the change that was promised during the campaign.
This was the first time Crustacean Compassion has had a stand at a Party Conference, and we were overwhelmed by the support that we received not only from MPs but from local Councillors and party members. We were also able to speak to animal welfare Minister Baroness Sue Hayman to make the case for speedy action.
Throughout the week we saw people shocked when we told them that it is still legal not only to boil decapods alive at home, but even buy them alive and have them delivered through the post.
A number of MPs, and their staff members, who visited the stand commented on how much communication they had from our supporters during the election campaign. It really does make a difference in raising awareness of decapod crustaceans and we’re hugely grateful for all the work our supporters did.
Away from the exhibition we attended fringe meetings to discuss animal protection and environmental policy. Fringe meetings at Party Conferences are often where the real discussion happens, away from the often stage-managed Conference Hall. Along with other animal protection groups, we pressed Labour to be bold in taking animal welfare legislation forward, as we focused on calls for crustaceans to be included in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in England and Wales, to be protected during scientific research through inclusion in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and with a ban on the live sale of decapods to the public for food.
The following week we were at the Conservative Conference in Birmingham, where the atmosphere was a bit different after their election defeat. The main focus of the Conference was the ongoing leadership election, but we were still able to talk to elected officials about our campaigns and catch up with other animal protection groups attending.
We’ll be building on this momentum, pushing for better legal protections for crustaceans in the months to come. Keep an eye on the Crustacean Compassion social media channels or sign up to receive our newsletter to be the first to hear what's happening.