Animal welfare organization Crustacean Compassion has strongly criticized the UK seafood industry for its voluntary codes of practice which were released last week. These codes fail to protect crabs, lobsters, and prawns from inhumane treatment and death.
The UK Government had previously recognized the ability of these animals, known as decapod crustaceans, to feel pain with their inclusion in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. In response, the seafood sector had been eagerly awaiting guidance on how to protect these sentient creatures from current and routine cruel practices in the food supply chain.
On Friday 02 August 2024, Seafish published this guidance. However, Crustacean Compassion has declared that the codes, which were developed by industry bodies, are not strong enough and represent a missed opportunity to improve animal welfare and enhance the reputation of UK seafood.
The voluntary codes still permit cruel practices that cause immense suffering, including boiling animals alive, freezing them to death, tearing them apart while still alive, removing their claws, cutting tendons to immobilize their claws, and selling live decapods to the public.
While the documents do outline best practices in some cases, they are not legally binding and companies are not obligated to follow the guidance. This means that hundreds of millions of vulnerable animals will continue to be tortured to death each year, including by home cooks.
Crustacean Compassion’s CEO, Dr Ben Sturgeon, stated, “The seafood industry is using smoke and mirrors to give the illusion of improving animal welfare while still allowing animals to suffer needlessly. The codes were a chance to build on the recognition of sentience in decapod crustaceans, but instead they are an exercise in doing nothing and will set back welfare standards for years to come. We’ve developed our own codes that clearly outline what higher welfare looks like for decapods and we encourage all seafood businesses to follow these if they want to be fit for the future.”
Crustacean Compassion argues that the industry’s codes not only fail to protect decapods, but also harm the struggling seafood industry by not meeting consumers’ expectations.
However, some supermarkets are taking the lead in demanding higher welfare standards for decapods. In its annual report on welfare standards in the food industry, Crustacean Compassion found evidence of positive progress among industry leaders.
Dr Sturgeon said, “With public awareness around decapod welfare growing rapidly, we’re seeing more retailers respond by setting a higher bar for their suppliers. People want to feel good about the food they eat, and they expect supermarkets to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare. Companies such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are starting to insist on higher welfare crustacean products for their customers, so suppliers who don’t meet those standards will soon be frozen out.”
Crustacean Compassion is calling on the new Labour government to reject the industry’s codes of practice and to include decapods in the Animal Welfare Act. These fragile animals, recognized as capable of feeling pain and suffering, should be protected under UK animal welfare legislation.
Dr Sturgeon added, “At a time when the UK government and the fishing industry seek to encourage more people to eat British seafood, it is vital that the high welfare expectations of today’s consumers are met. The UK is rightly proud of our standards of animal welfare – it is only fitting that these levels increase as our scientific understanding of sentience and other welfare factors improves.”
In conclusion, these codes do not represent an advance in welfare or support the seafood industry in addressing urgent welfare and environmental issues. By ignoring legislative change, excluding certain species, and promoting ongoing cruel practices, these codes leave the industry unchanged.
