Animal welfare advocates are calling on the Labour government to make 2025 the year that Britain bans boiling animals alive. The issue has reached a boiling point, with public concern growing over the mistreatment of crabs and lobsters. Led by Crustacean Compassion, activists, celebrities, and animal welfare organizations gathered outside Westminster today to urge the government to take action.
TV presenter Wendy Turner Webster, ambassador for Crustacean Compassion, stated, “Boiling animals alive is a cruel practice that has no place in today’s society. Scientific evidence has shown that animals like crabs and lobsters can feel pain, yet they remain unprotected by legislation and continue to suffer. We are urging the government to act swiftly to end this needless cruelty.”
Despite the inclusion of decapod crustaceans in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, there are still no regulations, legislation, or protections in place for these animals. Chief Executive Officer of Crustacean Compassion, Dr. Ben Sturgeon, stated, “When live, conscious decapod crustaceans are placed into a pot of boiling water, they experience several minutes of excruciating pain before they die. This is torture for these animals and is completely avoidable. The science is settled, the public is concerned, and the cruelty is undeniable. The law must follow. The government has done little to protect these animals, but we can change that. Let’s make 2025 the year we ban boiling alive.”
Recent polling has shown strong public support for protection of decapod crustaceans, with 65% of people backing a ban on boiling crabs and lobsters alive, and 75% supporting humane slaughter methods in restaurants. Crustacean Compassion’s new ‘Kinder Kitchens’ campaign is also gaining traction, with many chefs and seafood professionals seeking guidance on how to adopt humane alternatives such as electrical stunning, which renders crustaceans unconscious before they are killed.
Dr. Ben Sturgeon added, “We are seeing a real appetite for change. Chefs and seafood professionals want to do better, and they are embracing humane methods like electrical stunning. Kinder Kitchens is about supporting this transition and ensuring that the industry is ready to lead with compassion once boiling alive is banned.”
As pressure mounts on the government to take action, campaigners are urging policymakers to listen to the science, reflect public sentiment, and take decisive action to protect decapod crustaceans from needless suffering. With growing industry support for humane alternatives and overwhelming public backing, the message is clear: boiling animals alive belongs in the past, and 2025 must be the year that Britain leads with compassion and bans this cruel practice for good.