Growing evidence that crabs are sentient and capable of experiencing pain raises urgent welfare questions about how they are handled, transported, and killed in commercial fisheries.
The welfare of farmed and commercially caught crabs has been largely ignored due to assumptions that invertebrates lack sentience. Scientific evidence now challenges this assumption, and regulatory frameworks in some jurisdictions are beginning to catch up. Crabs boiled alive or split without prior stunning likely experience significant pain. Welfare-conscious approaches include mandatory electrical stunning, reduced transport times and densities, and rearing conditions that minimize chronic stress. Consumer pressure can drive industry adoption of more humane handling practices.