Lobsters and crabs are caught in vast numbers worldwide, yet their capacity for pain and suffering remains poorly understood by most consumers and policymakers.
Evidence increasingly supports that lobsters and crabs experience pain and distress. They respond to noxious stimuli with protective behaviors, show physiological stress responses, and have sufficient neural complexity to warrant serious welfare consideration. The live boiling method causes prolonged suffering - studies suggest it takes minutes for death. Trap fishing can also cause stress injuries during confinement.