Crabs and lobsters are kept alive for extended periods in crowded tanks at seafood markets and restaurants, raising welfare concerns given growing evidence of crustacean sentience.
The welfare case for crustaceans has strengthened considerably in recent years as neuroscience demonstrates nociceptive systems capable of processing harmful stimuli. Lobsters boiled alive show vigorous escape behaviors consistent with distress. Crabs subjected to noxious stimuli show prolonged avoidance behavior and self-protective responses beyond simple reflex. Storage in crowded tanks without food causes stress and starvation. While scientific certainty about subjective crustacean experience remains incomplete, the precautionary principle applied to potential sentience at this scale argues for improved treatment.