Crabby Crabs

Very hard to be inside today. The weather is gorgeous and I really want to be done working. Unfortunately this is not going to happen for a bit so I thought I’d write a quick post before diving back into what I have to finish this afternoon. While perusing the “Internets” a while ago I ran across an article discussing a surprising find – crabs feel pain. The piece begins:

A favored method of preparing fresh crabs is to simply boil them alive. A longstanding related question: Do they feel pain?

Yes, researchers now say. Not only do crabs suffer pain, a new study found, but they retain a memory of it (assuming they aren’t already dead on your dinner plate). The scientists say its time for new laws to consider the suffering of all crustaceans.

Duh. What I fail to comprehend is the lack of compassion in people. If you think animals are part of the food chain, fine, we will just have to agree to disagree. But, if you think animals should turn into meals in the most efficient way possible, regardless of the suffering they experience, we will just have to agree that I can punch you in the throat. Why civil societies don’t do more to humanely murder animals for food completely befuddles me. There’s

Bob Elwood of Queen’s University Belfast in the UK says in the article:

“Millions of crustacean are caught or reared in aquaculture for the food industry,” he said. “There is no protection for these animals (with the possible exception of certain states in Australia) as the presumption is that they cannot experience pain. With vertebrates we are asked to err on the side of caution and I believe this is the approach to take with these crustaceans.”

All kinds of animals experience pain. It was clear before and its more clear with the publication of this study. Please think about this the next time you sit down to eat. Even if you’re a carnivore, supporting the efforts of organizations like PETA can help make humans more responsible carnivores, whether it be in light of the environment or in light of suffering. If a couple people are converted to vegetarianism, all the better for you and the earth.