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Lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain says U.K.

Lobsters and Pain - Level 0

Chefs in the U.K. may soon change how they cook seafood. They will stop boiling it alive. Research from the London School of Economics shows that sea creatures feel pain. It said creatures like lobsters, squid, octopuses and crabs have feelings. The researchers looked at 300 different studies.

One researcher said some sea creatures experience pain more than others. He said restaurants must change the way they treat and kill sea creatures. He also said people need training. They need to know how to kill sea creatures without hurting them. The UK government said it wants to protect animals.

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Lobsters and Pain - Level 1

Chefs may have to change how they cook seafood. They will have to stop boiling it alive. New research on animal welfare shows that sea creatures like lobsters and crabs feel pain. The research says they are "sentient beings". This means they feel things like pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics looked at 300 different studies. They concluded that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.

A researcher of animal sentience commented on the research. He said some sea creatures experience pain more than others. He said the new law means restaurants must change the way they treat and kill sea creatures. They must stop boiling lobsters alive. He also said people need training, so they know how to kill sea creatures without hurting them. The U.K. government said it has very strong protections for animals.

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Lobsters and Pain - Level 2

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Chefs may soon have to change their cooking methods. They will have to stop boiling seafood alive. The U.K. is looking at research that accepts that sea life like lobsters and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how we treat and kill these creatures. The research on animal welfare recognizes that they are "sentient beings". This means they feel things like pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics looked at 300 different studies. They concluded that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.

A professor and researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project commented on the research. He said some sea creatures experience pain more than others. He said the new law means the fishing, retail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these sea creatures. This means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should be trained so they know how to kill sea creatures humanely. The U.K. government said it has "some of the strongest protections in the world" for animals.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Lobsters and Pain - Level 3

Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change their cooking methods. They will no longer be able to boil seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at research that accepts that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people treat and kill these creatures. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with a spine are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" means being able to feel things like pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.

Dr Jonathan Birch, a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commented on the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than others. He said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing, retail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these creatures. This means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now be trained so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it has "some of the strongest protections in the world" for animals.

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