Lords debate banning restaurants from boiling lobsters alive

Campaigners gathered outside the House of Lords today as Peers put forward amendments to the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill that could see restaurants and fishmongers banned from boiling crabs or lobsters alive.

The bill, which was introduced by the government on 11 May as part of a raft of animal welfare reforms, could see crustaceans given new legal protections, replacing European Union legislation.

The UK Animal Sentience Bill currently only applies to ‘vertebrate' animals – animals with a backbone – while an amendment could see the inclusion of cephalopods, which includes octopus and squid.

Countries such as Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand include decapod crustaceans (crabs, crayfish and lobsters) in their animal welfare laws.

The bill is now at the committee stage, where it will be examined line by line and changes debated. It may eventually be sent to the House of Commons.

Photo: Crustacean Compassion