Some forms of abuse and mistreatment of animals are harder to recognise than others: a dog kept on a chain under the scorching sun or a cat being kicked provoke immediate reactions of anger, disapproval, and disgust. But what happens when the victims of equally serious mistreatment are crustaceans?
It is not uncommon to find live crustaceans displayed in restaurant aquariums, in overcrowded and often unhygienic environments, or packed, still alive, in boxes of ice at fishmongers, with their claws tied.
These scenes are so commonplace that they go unnoticed, also because decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, crayfish and related species) are not protected by any national law, despite science having conclusively demonstrated that, just like dogs, cats, pigs and all other animals, these animals are sentient beings and therefore capable of feeling sensations and emotions, of perceiving the world, and of having self-awareness.
In the United Kingdom, crustaceans were officially recognised as sentient beings in 2022, while in Switzerland, Austria and Norway specific bans on boiling alive and storage on ice have already been introduced, as outlined in our report “Decapod crustaceans: between law and science”.
In Italy, on the other hand, there are currently only a few provisions in certain municipal regulations, which are moreover outdated, incomplete and frequently ignored.
For this reason, Animal Law Italia has been working every day for years to change things, so that behaviours until now considered “normal” — such as tying claws and keeping live animals on ice — are recognised as genuine forms of mistreatment and punished as such.
And yet it moves…
Even though the situation regarding the protection status of these animals is disheartening, there is some news that gives cause for hope. Last year, several supermarkets stopped selling live crustaceans following our reports.
We can now announce that also thanks to the work of our team and the reports you have sent us over the years, the Ministry of Health has recently established a panel of experts tasked with drafting national guidelines on the welfare of decapod crustaceans.
This is a historic milestone: for the first time, an institutional dialogue is opening up about these animals, which until now have been completely ignored by the Law and by public institutions.
The “On the Side of Crustaceans” coalition
To lend weight to the call for greater protections for crustaceans and to make the most of this opportunity, Animal Law Italia (ALI) has brought together the country’s leading animal rights and environmental organisations into a single coalition: Animal Equality Italia, CIWF Italia, ENPA, Essere Animali, LAV, LEAL, LNDC Animal Protection and OIPA.
Together we have signed the Manifesto “On the Side of Crustaceans”, which calls on the Government and Parliament to act through four urgent and concrete measures:
- Ban the live storage of crustaceans on ice or in iced water: this practice causes extreme physiological stress and injuries to the animals and has already been the subject of a ruling by the Court of Cassation;
- Ban boiling alive, including slow temperature increases: it is scientifically proven that this inflicts prolonged suffering;
- Ban the direct sale of live crustaceans to consumers: shops, e-commerce platforms and restaurants cannot guarantee adequate storage and slaughter methods, exposing the animals to cruel killing;
- Legally recognise the sentience of decapod crustaceans, placing them on an equal footing with the mammals and birds already protected, on the basis of the robust scientific evidence available.
Why act now
Our commitment has contributed to the appointment of a technical panel, which represents the ideal opportunity to translate these demands into ambitious guidelines. Italy finally has the chance to position itself at the forefront in Europe, filling a regulatory gap that still today leaves millions of animals without protection.
A national ban would create a clear standard for large-scale retail and the catering industry alike, reducing avoidable suffering throughout the entire supply chain.
How can you support us?
- Sign our petition to show the Ministry that public opinion is already ready for change
- Follow us on our social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and spread the hashtag #DallaParteDeiCrostacei.
Together we can turn scientific awareness into concrete legal protections. Now is the time to ensure that crabs, lobsters and crayfish too receive the respect they deserve.