The problems

From capture to sale, the practices that mark the lives of lobsters, crabs and spiny lobsters — and the scientific evidence on their capacity to suffer.

Crostacei vivi in pentola

Unacceptable suffering

At ALI, we believe it is necessary and urgent to ban the practices that cause needless suffering to these animals. That is why we commissioned the scientific report The question of sentience in decapod crustaceans from the University of Messina.

The study, written by Prof. Passantino and colleagues at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and published in May 2024, reviews the most recent scientific evidence available on these animals’ capacity for sentience and concludes that decapod crustaceans are sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and suffering and therefore deserving of protection like every other sentient animal used in the food chain.

This study is the first of its kind published in Italy and represents the first public position taken by an Italian university on this subject.

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The main issues

Le evidenze scientifiche hanno dimostrato la capacità dei crostacei decapodi di provare dolore e di soffrire ma molte pratiche comunemente adottate all’interno dell’industria alimentare non sono compatibili con il rispetto del benessere di questi animali e risultano per loro dolorose.

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We are asking Italian lawmakers for four concrete measures to protect decapod crustaceans.

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