- A review of 300 studies concluded that there is strong evidence that certain invertebrates are sentient.
- The British government is updating an animal welfare law to include octopus, crab and lobster.
- The review defines perception as “the ability to have feelings, such as feelings of pain, pleasure, hunger, thirst, warmth, happiness, comfort, and excitement.”
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According to the British Animal Welfare Act, octopuses, crabs and lobsters will be regarded as sentient beings. After the conclusion of the review, there is strong evidence that invertebrates are sentient.
British government Announce On Friday, decapod crustaceans and a class of cephalopods of molluscs will now be included in the Animal Welfare (Perception) Act. Decapod animals include crabs, lobsters, shrimps, shrimps and crayfish, and cephalopods include octopus, squid and cuttlefish.
The announcement stated that the bill “has considered all animals with vertebrae (vertebrates) as sentient beings. However, unlike some other invertebrates (animals without vertebrae), decapod crustaceans and cephalopods have The complex central nervous system is one of the key signs of consciousness.”
The decision was made based on the results of an investigation commissioned by the government Independent review of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
A review published this month found that there is “strong evidence” that these animals are sentient. The review defines it as “the ability to feel, such as pain, happiness, hunger, thirst, warmth, joy, and comfort. “. And excitement. “
“I am very happy to see that the government has implemented the core recommendations of my team’s report,” said Jonathan Burch, Professor of the London School of Economics and Political Science Who is The basis of the animal perception project, Adding that they reviewed more than 300 scientific studies. “Octopus and other cephalopods have been under scientific protection for many years, but only now have they received any protection beyond science.”
The report also made specific recommendations for animal welfare practices based on its findings, including:
- Ban crabs from removing claws
- It is forbidden to sell live crabs and lobsters to “untrained non-professional handlers”
- When there is a viable alternative method and the electric stunning is not performed first, the following slaughter methods are prohibited: live boiling and live dismemberment
The report also stated that there is no evidence that slaughter methods for organisms like octopuses are “humane and commercially viable on a large scale” and recommends more research to determine more humane practices.
In the announcement, the British government stated that it “will not affect any existing legislation or industry practices, such as fishing. It will not have a direct impact on shellfish fishing or the catering industry. On the contrary, it aims to ensure animal welfare decisions in the future.”
Insider information Cheryl Teh Reports in July that British legislators are considering banning inhumane methods of slaughtering animals such as lobsters and crabs, which prompted the LSE to conduct a review.
In some countries, including Switzerland and New Zealand, it is illegal to cook crustaceans live.