Brown crabs and other commercial crab species are increasingly recognised as potential sentient animals with complex nervous systems, raising welfare concerns about live storage, transport and killing methods.
Crab welfare in commercial fisheries has historically received little attention, but growing scientific evidence for potential sentience in decapod crustaceans has prompted regulatory interest. The UK's Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 extended recognition to decapods, creating a framework for welfare consideration. Electrical or mechanical killing methods are now recommended over live boiling.