Aquatic Invertebrate Welfare Science

The welfare of aquatic invertebrates including cephalopods, crustaceans and other marine invertebrates is an emerging area of scientific and policy concern.

Key Facts

The UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 extends protection to all decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs
A 2021 review commissioned by the UK government found strong evidence that decapods and cephalopods are sentient
Lobsters and crabs are commonly killed by boiling while conscious, a method likely to cause significant pain
Bivalves (mussels, oysters, clams) are excluded from most welfare legislation due to uncertainty about sentience
Research into cephalopod cognition has demonstrated remarkable problem-solving, play and individual variation

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of aquatic invertebrates represents one of the newest and most rapidly developing areas of animal welfare science. The philosophical and empirical question of which animals can suffer has been extended, through rigorous scientific review, to include decapod crustaceans and cephalopods. This creates welfare obligations for industries including fishing, aquaculture and the catering trade that are only beginning to be addressed through regulatory and voluntary change.

What You Can Do

Support businesses and restaurants that use humane killing methods for lobsters and crabs
Advocate for welfare-friendly crustacean killing methods to become standard in the food industry
Support research into bivalve sentience and welfare that will inform future protective measures
Choose seafood from suppliers that take aquatic invertebrate welfare seriously
Engage with food industry associations about adopting the Crustacean Compassion guidelines