Octopuses, lobsters and crabs feel pain — to be recognised as sentient by United Kingdom laws.

Lobsters, octopuses and crabs will receive greater protection in UK law following a report which demonstrates that there is strong scientific evidence that these animals have the capacity to experience pain, distress or harm.

This move follows the findings of a UK Government-commissioned independent review led by Dr Jonathan Birch. The review drew on over 300 scientific studies to evaluate evidence of sentience in cephalopods (including octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) and decapods (including crabs, lobsters and crayfish). ‘Sentience’ is a term used to indicate that a living being is aware, feeling and sensitive.

Australia is failing to protect animals

In stark contrast, Australian laws are falling further behind the UK when it comes to animal welfare.

In fact, it comes as a shock to many Australians to learn that our laws allow treatment of farmed animals that has been banned for decades in the United Kingdom. The Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (Aus-UK FTA) has thrown a spotlight on these failings. Discover more here.

Australian prawn industry still cutting the eyes off live prawns

Years after we exposed the horrific routine practice of ‘eyestalk ablation’ in Australian prawn farming, the industry has seemingly made little move to change.

Along with cutting and squeezing the prawn’s eye, other methods including cauterisation (cutting the eyestalk with a heated blade or forceps) and ligation (tying a thread or wire around the eyestalk causing it to fall off after a few days).

No wonder a growing number of Australians are choosing to leave prawns off their plates, and enjoy plant-rich options that are kinder to these marine animals — and others like them, including octopuses and lobsters.

You don’t have to wait for laws to catch up