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The Shellfish Network is campaigning to extend the protections of the Animal Welfare Act to shellfish, including decapod crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs. At the moment these animals have little or no legal protection from the cruelty that is often meted out to them, despite their now being recognised in law as being sentient. The following pages include information about our campaigns; the science that proves that shellfish are sentient; animal welfare law; plus advice about plant based nutrition and the dangers of eating shellfish. Below, on this page, are updates on the campaign.
ELECTION SPECIAL 2024
A broad coalition of Animal Welfare organisations -Votes for Animals- which includes The Shellfish Network, has put together 10 pledges which it is asking election candidates to endorse. This includes the:
‘addition of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods to the Animal Welfare Act and ending sales of live crustaceans to the public’
The website can be accessed at: https://voteforanimals.org.uk On this site, one can access a means of sending multiple standard emails supporting the 10 pledges to each of the candidates in your constituency, starting here: https://action.voteforanimals.org.uk/page/151183/action/1?ea.tracking.id=web&utm_content=Write%20to%20Election%20Candidates%20-%20Votes%20For%20Animals%20-%20June%202024&utm_campaign=VotesForAnimals&utm_medium=direct&utm_source=website&_gl=1*19ssox5*_ga*MTYxNzQyNDU1MC4xNzE4MTE4MjM0*_ga_26K1BRRRLY*MTcxODIwNjgxOS4zLjEuMTcxODIwNzQxMi4wLjAuMA..*_ga_3PZFF8DGBX*MTcxODIwNjgxOS4zLjEuMTcxODIwNzQxMi4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.143765814.203199504.1718118234-1617424550.1718118234
This will bring you eventually to a list of candidates with the standard email next to their names, and with a tick against them. If you wish to send the standard email to all candidates , just click 'send’. However, it is possible to alter each email and use your own words. If you add your own words to the email this will have a far greater effect. For example, you might write I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRUEL TREATMENT OF MARINE ANIMALS SUCH AS DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS, CEPHALOPODS AND BIVALVES (MUSSELLS, OYSTERS, SCALLOPS, etc.)
If you wish to send a more detailed email, below are some questions you might wish to ask
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
If your party comes to power:
1) Will you legislate to add decapod crustaceans and cephalopods (octopuses, squid,
- cuttlefish, nautiluses) to the species protected by the Animal Welfare Act?
- 2) Will you include decapod crustaceans and all cephalopods as protected species in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act? (One species of cephalopod-octopus vulgaris- is already given some protection).
- 3) Will you insist on humane slaughter methods for decapod crustaceans in the Welfare at the Time of Killing (WATOK) regulations? (Of course, better still, is to leave these animals alone!) Will you ban the killing of cephalopods for food? There are no known humane methods for slaughtering these intelligent creatures.
- 4) Will you ban live animal sales of decapod crustaceans to the public? The humane slaughter of these animals requires the right equipment (e.g. the crustastun) which few members of the public will possess. 5) Will you ban live exports of these animals?
- 6) Will you support welfare regulations to protect bivalves (such as mussels, oysters, scallops, etc.) 80,000 tonnes of these animals are caught each year around the UK. They are subjected to extreme cruelty such as being eaten raw or boiled alive.
NEW CAMPAIGN September 2023
THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT BIVALVES
WHAT ARE BIVALVES AND WHAT ARE THE ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES?
Bivalves are a class of typically marine molluscs (such as mussels, scallops, clams, and oysters) which have a shell made up of two parts joined by a hinge. They are usually filter feeders. These animals are subjected to horribly cruel and painful treatment. They are boiled alive and even swallowed alive (cf. oysters). At present, 80,000 tonnes of bivalves are caught around the UK each year.1 This involves countless individual bivalves, maybe half a billion or more. The huge numbers involved and the particularly cruel treatment to which they are subjected makes this one of the most important animal welfare issues.
WHAT IS THE PROOF THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE SENTIENT? THE SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND
Sonetti et al found endogenous morphine in specific tissues of mussels that appear to be involved in the response to physical trauma. 2 This occurred when the shell posterior adductor muscle was cut.
Cadet et al studied the edible blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and found that rapid exposure of whole mollusks to cold temperatures from maintenance at room temperature alters ganglionic opiate processes.3
Kamenos et al found that scallops show increased heart rates in response to cues from predators.4
Wilson et al found that mussels are able to alter their responses according to differing danger levels.5 When they face a perceived danger, such as the smell of a predator or some sudden variation in their environment, they close their shells, even if this makes it impossible for them to eat. Solitary mussels have been observed protecting themselves, and consequently refraining from eating, for longer than those who are in a communal tank. Thus, it seems as though grouped mussels sense a lower risk of harm. This indicates an ability to balance and trade off different needs and risks (such as threat of predators, significance of group size, and demand for food) against one another and adjust their behaviour based on context.
These studies show that bivalves typically possess endogenous opioid systems. In other animals, these are used to mitigate the experience of pain. It would seem highly unlikely that bivalves would possess such systems if they did not also experience pain. In addition, bivalves are able to balance and trade off different needs and risks. This is seen in the study by Wilson et al .
From the point of view of deductive epistemology, bivalves have similar organs to humans such as hearts, stomachs, etc. We know that most animals, including humans and bivalves, are probably descended from one common ancestor- maybe Ikaria wariootia. This may account for the similar pain reduction mechanisms in humans and bivalves.
REFERENCES
1) https://www.cefas.co.uk/publications/techrep/techrep136.pdf
2) Sonetti, D.; Mola, L.; Casares, F.; Bianchi, E.; Guarna, M. & Stefano, G. B. (1999) “Endogenousmorphine levels increase in molluscan neural and immune tissues after physical trauma”, Brain Research, 835, pp. 137-147.
3) Cadet et al. (2002) 22 Cadet, P.; Zhu, W.; Mantione, K. J.; Baggerman, G. & Stefano, G. (2001) “Cold stress alters Mytilus edulis pedal ganglia expression of μ opiate receptor transcripts determined by real-time RT-PCR and morphine levels”, Molecular Brain Research, 99, pp. 26-33.
4) Kamenos, N. A.; Calosi, P. & Moore, P. G. (2006) “Substratum-mediated heart rate responses of an invertebrate to predation threat”, Animal Behaviour, 71, pp. 809-813. Scallops have been found to show increased heart rates in response to cues from predators.
5) Wilson, C. D.; Arnott, G. & Elwood, R. (2011) 'Freshwater pearl mussels show plasticity of responses to different predation risks but also show consistent individual differences in responsiveness”, Behavioural Processes, 89, pp. 299-303
April 11th 2022
THE ANIMAL WELFARE (SENTIENCE) BILL HAS NOW BEEN PASSED BY PARLIAMENT. THEREFORE, THE AMENDMENT ASKING THAT DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS AND CEPHALOPODS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED AS BEING SENTIENT HAS BECOME LAW!
Thank you for all your support over the years. Your voices have made a substantial difference during this long struggle. Let us hope this is a step towards a kinder Britain. This will not only be better for animals but also for humans. After all, kindness is its own reward, something substantiated not least by modern psychological research.
However, we cannot rest on our laurels. Although this is a major step forward, it will be necessary to change the rules and regulations controlling how these animals are treated. This should now be much easier. We must also change how other invertebrates are treated like, for example, bivalves such as scallops, oysters and mussels. Millions of scallops, for instance, are caught by UK vessels each year. So, we may be asking for your support again sometime in the future.
Still, none of this should take away from this major step forward in UK law
Kind regards to all
Peter
15.3.22
Dear Shellfish Network Supporter,
Just a brief update on the progress of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. The Third Reading of the bill was delayed from last week because of the debate on the Ukraine war. Instead, it took place yesterday. The final stage of the bill was delayed again by an amendment from a group of Conservative backbenchers. This means the bill will have to return to the Lords for further scrutiny. This amendment, however, would not affect the legal recognition of the sentience of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods.
How it would affect the bill overall remains to be seen, as it inserts so called 'balancing factors' such as religious rites, and regional and cultural customs, which would need to be taken into account.
I will let you know about further developments.
Kind regards to all,
Peter
28.2.22
On Monday the 7th of March, the Report Stage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill will take place in the House of Commons. Hopefully, this will be followed by the Third (Final) Reading of the bill and it will become law. The bill, of course, includes the amendment to recognise in law that Decapod Crustaceans and Cephalopods are sentient. This is a major step forward towards these animals being treated with less cruelty.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR MP TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE (SENTIENCE) BILL WHICH RECOGNISES THE SENTIENCE OF DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS AND CEPHALOPODS
HERE IS A BASIC TEMPLATE OF AN EMAIL TO YOUR MP, BUT BEST TO PUT THIS IN YOUR OWN WORDS
Dear MP,
I am deeply concerned about the cruelty meted out to decapod crustaceans and cephalopods. On Monday the 7th of March, the Report Stage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill will take place in the House of Commons. Please vote for the amendment to recognise in law that Decapod Crustaceans and Cephalopods are sentient.
Yours, etc
Please add to this if you can.
YOU CAN FIND YOUR MP'S DETAILS HERE:
https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
Many thanks for all your support over the years. I will let you know what happens!
Kind regards to all,
Peter
13.1.22
DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS AND CEPHALOPODS - PLEASE ACT NOW
Dear Shellfish Network Supporter,
Next Tuesday, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill will be debated in the House of Commons. This second reading of the bill is a crucial stage which may determine its eventual fate. It seeks to recognise in law the sentience of vertebrates and two classes of invertebrates. In this regard, the government has agreed to support an amendment stating that decapod crustaceans and cephalopods are also sentient. This, of course, is something that is obvious to the vast majority of people. However, this legal recognition, in time, will help to encourage the more humane treatment of these animals. In addition, the bill proposes the setting up of an Animal Sentience Committee, which will make recommendations to law makers. The only flaw in the bill is that it does not recognise all invertebrates as sentient.
While the bill passed through the Lords successfully, there were some voices supporting special interest groups which suggested that the bill should not go forward because the general public was ‘not interested’! Given the number of petitions, letters, editorials, social media and mass media discussions about the subject, this, of course, was absurd. Nevertheless, please prove them wrong again by writing to your MP.
PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR MP TO TELL THEM THAT THE AMENDMENT TO RECOGNISE DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS AND CEPHALOPODS AS SENTIENT, AS WELL AS THE ANIMAL WELFARE SENTIENCE BILL AS A WHOLE, SHOULD BE PASSED INTO LAW!
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE TO MY MP?
If possible, write something in your own words. But a basic email could be as follows:
Dear MP,
I would like to offer my full support for the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. To me it is self-evident that animals are sentient and I am deeply concerned about their welfare. I am particularly glad that decapod crustaceans and cephalopods will now be recognised as sentient in law.
Yours etc.,
However, please add your own experiences and views if possible.
YOU CAN FIND YOUR MP’S CONTACT DETAILS ON THIS LINK:
https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
PLEASE ACT NOW! PLEASE ALSO SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
.........................................................................
Dear Shellfish Network Supporter 23.11.21
There is some very good news. Following the Birch report
https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/News-Assets/PDFs/2021/Sentience-in-Cephalopod-Molluscs-and-Decapod-Crustaceans-Final-Report-November-2021.pdf,
the government will be supporting an amendment to the Animal Welfare Sentience Bill recognising the sentience of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods.. See
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lobsters-octopus-and-crabs-recognised-as-sentient-beings?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=994c7ffd-9c00-4347-9563-bc9a0754ecad&utm_content=immediately
This is a major step forward. However, if you look at the government website above, you will see that they are not going to change any regulations about the treatment of these animals, at least not initially. I think the implication is that future regulations may be influenced by the Animal Sentience Committee at a later date.
Despite the lack of immediate legislative action to regulate the treatment of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods , this is a huge step forward. Moreover, it will encourage all members of the shellfish industry to take the welfare of these creatures into account..
Thank you to all of you who have supported this campaign over the many years it has been running.
Kind regards to all,
Peter
Dear Shellfish Network Supporter
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!
PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR MP AND TO LORD ZAC GOLDSMITH (WHO IS STEERING THE ANIMAL WELFARE (SENTIENCE) BILL) TO ASK FOR THE LSE REPORT INTO THE SENTIENCE OF DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS AND CEPHALOPODS TO BE PUBLISHED IMMEDIATELY AND FOR THE WELFARE OF THESE ANIMALS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE BILL. FEEL FREE TO MENTION THE POINTS MADE BELOW AND YOUR OWN. PLEASE FORWARD ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TO FRIENDS ETC.
FIND YOUR MP HERE
https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
Don’t forget to put your address at the top of the email
CONTACT LORD ZAC GOLDSMITH HERE
[email protected]
(If you address the email to Lord Goldsmith, H of L staff will send it on)
THE PRESENT SITUATION
As you will know, for quite some considerable time, the government has been promising to introduce an Animal Sentience bill to replace the EU’s Article 13 which recognises animals as sentient beings. Last year, as a result of lobbying from you and many others like you, the government commissioned an LSE study into the sentience of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods in preparation for the publication of the bill. The report was completed late last year and handed to the government for peer review followed by an internal review by chief veterinary officers, ministers, etc. However, the report and the results of these deliberations have yet to see the light of day. Meanwhile the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill was published in May. This only recognised the sentience of vertebrate animals. Victoria Prentis, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has stated that the Government has the power to include decapod crustaceans and cephalopods in the bill through secondary legislation, should scientific evidence support it. She has said that the independent review into whether decapod crustaceans and cephalopods can be considered sentient “will report shortly”.
Why has it taken so long to review the LSE study? The contract for this was awarded in August 2020. So the review of the study has actually taken longer than the study itself.
While the Shellfish Network has been content for the study and the review process to be gone through to satisfy any doubters, we do not think that this was necessary.
1) All animals are sentient according to the dictionary definition
2) It is obvious through simple observation, even to a child of three, that these animals react to painful and other stimuli. Indeed other countries such as New Zealand and Norway, not to mention the EU, regard this to be an obvious fact. No animal, including humans, needs to have superior cognitive abilities to experience pain. When a human experiences a painful stimulus, s/he does not need to think about it to know that it is painful
3) If this were not enough, there has been a huge amount of research confirming this obvious fact. There is far too much of this to list here, but one important study is by Professor Robert Elwood. See https://shellfishnetwork.weebly.com/more-scientific-evidence.html
4) If this were not enough, The British Veterinary Association and numerous other UK experts have recognised that these animals are sentient.
While we hope that all this will be resolved, and that secondary legislation will be passed to confirm that decapod crustaceans and cephalopods are sentient, time is now short. The bill is already passing through Parliament. So please take action now! Thanks!
Kind regards, Peter (for The Shellfish Network)
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SUCCESSES SO FAR
The extension of the protections of the Animal Welfare Act to crustaceans became one of the British Green Party's manifesto pledges in 2015. This was repeated in their 2017 manifesto. Individual politicians in the major parties starting to support a change in the law.
Widespread publicity in a number of high circulation newspapers, as well as celebrity endorsements for the humane treatment of shellfish. Mainstream animal charities supporting a change in the law.
The extension of the protections of the Animal Welfare Act to crustaceans became one of the British Green Party's manifesto pledges in 2015. This was repeated in their 2017 manifesto. Individual politicians in the major parties starting to support a change in the law.
Widespread publicity in a number of high circulation newspapers, as well as celebrity endorsements for the humane treatment of shellfish. Mainstream animal charities supporting a change in the law.
