Wild-caught crabs are among the most numerous animals in UK commercial fisheries. Growing evidence of crustacean sentience raises important welfare questions about catching, handling, and slaughter practices.
Current evidence indicates crabs have nociceptors and display protective behaviours following noxious stimuli consistent with pain experience. Live boiling exposes animals to a prolonged period of aversive stimulation before death. Limb removal from live crabs for processing is practiced in some fisheries and likely causes significant pain. Storage in tanks before sale involves unfamiliar environments and crowding that may cause stress. The welfare case for improving crustacean handling and slaughter is strengthened by their legal recognition as sentient beings.