Ministers now recognize that live lobsters are sentient and have proposed a ban on their boiling.
- Crabs, lobsters and octopus have been recognized by the Government as being sentient.
- A report for ministers confirmed evidence of sentience in decapod crustaceans
- They should be considered in any animal protection legislation.
After the Government recognized that crabs, octopus, and lobsters are sentient beings, yesterday saw a closer ban on boiling alive lobsters.
A Parliament amendment was introduced to the Animal Welfare Bill, which currently is in session. It makes it illegal for an invertebrate animal to suffer unnecessary harm or suffering.
This was after the London School of Economics had reported to ministers that there are strong scientific proofs of sentience among decapod crustaceans like crab and lobster and cephalopod moluscs such as octopus, squid, and cephalopod shellfishes.
According to animal welfare organizations, freezing lobsters in cold water or ice prior to boiling can make them stunning. This is an easier and more humane way of cooking.
These should be included as part of animal protection legislation.
There had previously been much debate over whether lobsters and crabs have feelings similar to vertebrates – animals that have a backbone – as they have different nervous systems.
The amendment published on the Government’s website read: ‘This amendment adds cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans to the definition of “animal” for the purposes of the Bill.’
This would make it an offence for any person who is responsible for a kept animal – including crabs and lobsters – to cause it unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for the animal’s welfare needs.
Despite the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisting that this law will not have an impact on restaurants kitchens, activists could make use of the new law in court to ask for a ban to boil the animals alive in restaurant eateries, as there are more painful methods to kill them.
A Parliamentary amendment was introduced to the Animal Welfare Bill, which currently is in progress. It makes it illegal for vertebrate animals to suffer unnecessary harm or suffering.
This is illegal in New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and Norway.
You can create stunning lobsters using either an electric gun, or chill them in cold air before boiling. This is according to animal welfare organizations.
The new law may not be a popular choice for restaurateurs. It could make them subject to Defra checks and, if a ban is in effect, it could penalise lobster-killers who use traditional methods.
The move has been pushed for by animal welfare minister Lord Goldsmith and the Prime Minister’s wife Carrie Johnson – who are patrons of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF).
Lord Goldsmith said: ‘The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill provides a crucial assurance that animal wellbeing is rightly considered when developing new laws.
‘The science is now clear that crustaceans and molluscs can feel pain and therefore it is only right they are covered by this vital piece of legislation.’
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