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Scientists feel their pain — finally.
Researchers have established that lobsters feel pain in a manner similar to that of other mammals, including humans — and boiling, the traditional method for killing these crustaceans, causes them suffering.
In light of this revelation, scientists are calling for an immediate, legally enforced ban on boiling.
Experts have long debated whether lobsters’ behavioral responses to harmful stimuli indicate that they actually feel pain or are exhibiting mechanical reflexes.
To settle the argument, a team of researchers at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg examined how the behavior of Norway lobsters changed if the creatures were given painkillers.
In the study, electrical shocks considered painful in humans were administered to the lobsters.
When the shocks were delivered to lobsters that had not been treated with painkillers, they attempted to escape by rapidly flipping their tails.
However, when the lobsters were injected with aspirin or had lidocaine dissolved into the water, no escape attempts or tail flipping were recorded, suggesting their pain responses are closer to ours.
“Responding to painkillers during potentially painful procedures means that what they experience is more than just simple reflexes,” lead author Eleftherios Kasiouras told the Daily Mail
“‘All that evidence supports that decapod crustaceans experience pain, and if you consider that they are considered sentient in the UK, boiling alive should be banned.”
The results and recommendations echo those of a 2024 study from the same university, which found that shore crabs can indeed feel pain.
Boiling is already illegal in Austria, several Australian states, Norway and New Zealand.
“Based on scientific evidence, it is not humane to boil crustaceans alive, and so I support the concept of banning live boiling,” study co–author and professor Lynne Sneddon told the Daily Mail.
“We should always seek to end the life of animals humanely, and we would never accept boiling a cow or chicken alive, so it is time to rethink the way we treat these animals,” she continued.
How to ‘humanely’ kill a lobster
What’s the alternative to boiling alive? Experts at the Hatfield Marine Science Centre suggest a more hands-on method that is allegedly less painful for the lobster.
- Stun the lobster by putting it in a 35°F freezer for 15-30 minutes
- Place the lobster belly-down on a stable surface
- Locate the small cross or indentation on the back of the head, about an inch behind the eyes.
- Drive a sharp knife or screwdriver through the point until you hit the other side of the shell, twisting the spike to destroy the nerve center
- Locate the small hole beneath the tail and repeat the process
- Return the lobster to the freezer to ensure it is humanely euthanized
For large-scale and industrial operations, scientists suggest that electrical shocks could be employed to stun or kill the lobsters.
If it all seems a touch too grisly, consider substituting king oyster mushrooms or hearts of palm, which deliver the taste and texture of lobster meat without the guilt, shame, or existential dread.
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