Scientific understanding of welfare in aquatic invertebrates — crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and octopuses — has advanced dramatically, challenging assumptions that these animals do not experience pain.
For decades, invertebrates were excluded from welfare protections on the assumption they could not suffer. New neurological and behavioral research challenges this consensus — particularly for decapod crustaceans and cephalopods. These animals show nociception, learning from aversive events, and behavioral responses consistent with pain. The scale of invertebrate use in food production means even small improvements in killing methods could reduce suffering for an enormous number of individuals.