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Squids, octopuses, crabs and lobsters have a sensation of pain.Based on this conclusion, the British government has announced that it will add cephalopods and decapods to the protection of the animal welfare bill.
Squids and octopuses are targeted for animal welfare. What’s happening
The background is the animal welfare law being promoted by the British government.
In May 2021, the United Kingdom announced an action plan to introduce measures to protect animal welfare. He legally recognized that animals are “living things” with a sense, and announced that he would work on welfare measures for pets, livestock, and wild animals.
The animal welfare bill passed for this reason initially limited animals with a sense of protection to “vertebrates” with a spine on their bodies.
According to the British Guardian, animal welfare groups claim that crustaceans and mollusks also have a sense. He had submitted his own report to the British government.
The British government has commissioned the London School of Economics (LSE) to investigate the sensations of these animals.
Based on more than 300 scientific studies, the LSE research team found that cephalopod mollusks such as squids and octopuses and decapod crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs are “considered to be sensual.” Should be. “
Pointed out that boiling alive is “inhumane”
The study examined whether each organism possessed receptors for pain-causing stimuli, learning ability, response to anesthetics and analgesics, and self-defense behavior.
The LSE concludes in a research report that the evidence that the octopus has a sense is “very reliable,” and that the squid is not very powerful, but it is practically a sense. The crustaceans of decapods are also said to be “highly reliable”.
The report also points out that freezing or boiling these organisms alive is an “inhumane” method of slaughter. It is not recommended to boil it alive.
Dr. Jonathan Birch of LSE“Octopus and other cephalopods have been scientifically protected for many years, but otherwise unprotected.Protecting these invertebrates, which humans have completely ignored, will be a step towards Britain’s world lead in animal welfare. “Commented.
The British government has stated that the decision has “no direct impact” on existing legislation, fishing and food service industries. On the other hand, it is said that this decision will be taken into consideration in future animal welfare measures.
