Take Action
Animals like crabs, lobsters and prawns (decapod crustaceans) endure unimaginable suffering within the food industry. From being shipped live through the post, enduring cramped conditions in tanks, and being boiled alive, their plight is often overlooked.
We refuse to turn a blind eye. Our mission is clear: to advocate for the legal protection and compassionate treatment of these vulnerable, yet remarkable creatures.
Below you will find our ongoing campaigns, regularly updated with new actions that demand your support. Make sure to check back regularly to find new ways you can support our campaigns and help us end the suffering of millions of decapods today.
Stop selling live decapods to the public
Crustacean Compassion believes decapods must be stunned effectively, followed by mechanical killing, before they are cooked. These steps required for humane slaughter must be carried out by a trained professional, and so it is therefore not possible for an untrained consumer to humanely slaughter crabs and lobsters at home, without causing extreme suffering. Putting them in boiling water is one of the methods promoted online but it can take up to 3 minutes for lobsters and crabs to die.
In our benchmark report The Snapshot, looked at decapod welfare policies of major supermarkets. Only M&S, the Co-op, Morrisons and Waitrose had made a firm commitment to not sell live decapods to the public or untrained handlers. We need all supermarkets in the UK to commit to the same policy.
Our recent polling to the public demonstrated that animal welfare policies significantly impact a brand or retailers ethical appearance. Over 80% of consumers want to be able to trust their supermarkets hold high welfare standards for ALL sentient animals.
We are calling on Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Ocado to update their animal welfare policies for decapods and commit to Not Sell Live Decapods to the Public and you can help us. We are writing to the CEOs of the supermarkets to make that commitment and are urging you to tweet them asking the same, especially if you shop with that supermarket.
Take Action
You can contact them via X (Twitter):
Tesco @Tesco
Sainsburys @sainsburys
Aldi @AldiUK
Lidl @LidlGB
Ocado @Ocado
Asda @AsdaServiceTeam
Please follow us @crab_welfare and retweet our messages.
Stop the sale of live decapods in London
We are calling on all London supporters to write to the Leader of their Council.
Live crabs and lobsters are being killed at home by the untrained public. Just as consumers couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't buy a lamb or chicken to slaughter themselves, we are calling for equal safeguarding for decapod crustaceans.
There is very little protection for decapods like lobsters and crabs in the UK. What protection they do have under the Welfare at the Time of Killing (WATOK) regulations is not being enforced by the majority of the London Councils.
A Freedom of Information request by Crustacean Compassion to all London Local Authorities showed many are not enforcing this law, and some even question its necessity. This lack of enforcement exposes vulnerable animals to a painful death.
We urgently need to establish a level playing field for all sentient beings, and the live sales of decapods must STOP!
If you live in London, please write to your Council Leader and urge them to help us end the live sale of decapod crustaceans to the public.
We are also urging every London Borough to implement a policy prohibiting the sale of live animals for consumption on council-owned premises. Numerous councils have already adopted animal welfare charters aimed at protecting animals and prohibiting inhumane practices, providing an opportunity to incorporate such a measure and potentially preventing numerous animals from experiencing excruciating suffering.
Close the loophole
Nephrops (langoustines) are now classed as sentient animals. This means the government recognises that, like other animals, they too can feel fear and pain.
Despite this, langoustines routinely have their tails ripped off (to be served as scampi) whilst alive and fully conscious. How is this possible?
Although langoustines have been legally recognised as sentient, they are given no protections in law. With more than 337 million langoustines caught by UK vessels every year, this "loophole" has the potential to result in significant suffering.
Watch our short film to see why the government must urgently Close the Loophole and protect all decapod crustaceans under the existing Animal Welfare Act and for each of the UK nations to end this cruelty by issuing guidance for fishing vessels.
Your donation can help protect crabs, lobsters, shrimp and other decapod crustaceans from unnecessary suffering.
We’ll keep you up to date with the latest campaign news, appeals and ways you can take action to protect decapods.
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