Octopuses, Crabs, Lobsters, and More to be Recognized as Sentient Beings Under UK Law

Nov 25

The science that decapods and cephalopods can feel pain is now irrefutable after a new study reviewed hundreds of scientific papers on pain reception among the invertebrate groups.

Octopuses, crabs, lobsters, and other sea creatures will be recognized as sentient animals capable of feeling pain under new changes to the UK’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill.

The amendment to the bill follows a government-commissioned review conducted by the London School of Economics (LSE), which found there was “strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs are sentient”.

All of these sea creatures have central nervous systems, which is one of the key hallmarks of sentience.

Sentience, as described per the report is “the capacity to have feelings, such as feelings of pain, pleasure, hunger, thirst, warmth, joy, comfort and excitement. It is not simply the capacity to feel pain, but feelings of pain, distress or harm.”

The five-year review saw experts review hundreds of existing scientific studies on these two invertebrate animal groups to evaluate evidence of sentience. Their findings led the authors to urge the government to formally recognize these animals as sentient beings.

"I'm pleased to see the government implementing a central recommendation of my team's report,” lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Birch, an associate professor in LSE, said in a statement. After reviewing over 300 scientific studies, we concluded that cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans should be regarded as sentient, and should therefore be included within the scope of animal welfare law.

“The amendment will also help remove a major inconsistency: octopuses and other cephalopods have been protected in science for years, but have not received any protection outside science until now. One way the UK can lead on animal welfare is by protecting these invertebrate animals that humans have often completely disregarded."

Being recognized as sentient means that the welfare of cephalopods and decapod crustaceans will have to be considered when future policy decisions are made about them, according to the U.K. government.

“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 decapods and cephalopods can feel pain and therefore it is only right they are covered by this vital piece of legislation,” said Animal Welfare Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith in a statement.

However, existing legislation and industry practices will not be affected by the law. This means that common methods such as declawing, nicking, eyestalk ablation, the sale of live crustaceans to untrained handlers, and extreme slaughter methods such as live boiling without stunning will remain legal, despite recognition of these animals’ sentience.

The researchers are now calling for these practices to be outlawed.

The groundbreaking new study brings into question the suffering experienced by the trillions of aquatic animals slaughtered for consumption around the world. Thankfully, there’s an ethical solution: vegan seafood. When it comes to protecting aquatic animals, this is a game-changer, and everyone from the world's largest food giants to tech-savvy startups are jumping on board to help develop plant-based replacements for fish and crustaceans. Here are some of our favorite brands that you have to try.

Share on facebook

Share on Twitter