Research on aquatic invertebrate sentience is changing how we approach the welfare of crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans used commercially and in research.
Aquatic invertebrate welfare represents a rapidly evolving frontier in animal ethics. The evidence base for crustacean sentience — while not conclusive — is substantially stronger than assumed a decade ago. The welfare implications are significant: billions of crustaceans are killed annually by methods now questionable in light of emerging evidence. The precautionary principle argues for transitioning toward pre-slaughter stunning even before definitive proof of sentience. This is the pattern of animal welfare progress — from dismissal, to awareness, to precautionary action, to standard practice. The trajectory for crustacean welfare follows this pattern.