Crabs, lobsters, and other decapod crustaceans have been recognised as sentient under UK law, creating legal obligations to consider their welfare in commercial fishing and food preparation contexts.
Decapods boiled alive or split live while conscious experience what their neurology suggests is equivalent to severe pain for a duration of 30 seconds to several minutes. The LSE review that underpinned the UK sentience extension found strong evidence for pain experience in these animals. Commercial fishing for crabs and lobsters involves crushing in pots, air exposure, and temperature shock that all cause welfare impacts prior to death. Electrical stunning before killing is commercially available and effective, representing a readily available welfare improvement for the food industry.