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Ban live sale - report List

In this retail store, crustaceans were seen being kept live in tanks, in not very clean water.

Live crustaceans kept in dirty retail tanks

Retail store - Croydon, England

Crustaceans appeared to be kept alive in cramped conditions in this busy fishmonger stall in a popular London market. Observer "[I] couldn’t get too close as very busy, but [they] were tied and piled up in tank."

Cramped live crustaceans at busy London market fishmonger

Market stall - London, England

In this restaurant live lobsters were tightly packed in a tank. Observer "Water looked clean but there were so many, stacked three lobsters high, no space to turn or move, and claws bound tight."

Lobsters tightly packed and claw-bound in restaurant tank

Restaurant - Portsmouth, England

Large tank of crustaceans in Edinburgh fishmongers. Observe "Large water tank (at least 10 feet) filled with live lobsters and crabs. Packed and on top of each other. Also children were in shop tapping the glass of tank."

Overcrowded crustacean tank in Edinburgh fishmongers

Fishmongers - Edinburgh, Scotland

Claw bound lobsters sold alive in London fishmongers. Observer "Many lobsters inside a tank and all of them with their claws tied with a white band."

Claw-bound lobsters sold alive in London fishmongers

Fishmongers - London, England

Crustaceans kept in dirty tanks in London supermarket. Observer "Crab(?) or other crustaceans in dirty tanks (the water looked dirty). I didn't manage to get a good look."

Live crustaceans kept in dirty tanks at London supermarket

Retail store - London, England

Serious animal welfare issues' seen at London supermarket. Observer "I am very concerned about serious animal welfare and hygiene issues at this shop. I have personally seen staff: Spit on lobsters and crabs. Throw them around and overcrowd them in tanks. Boil them alive. Pour bleach or chemicals into the tanks. Wash their hands in the tanks.
There are multiple tanks on the street front, visible to everyone, with fumes from traffic going into the water. This is causing distress to the local community and is extremely cruel. These practices must be stopped immediately."

Serious crustacean welfare and hygiene violations in London supermarket

Retail store - London, England

Crustaceans sold in retail store in crowded tubs. Observer "Crabs and other crustaceans are kept in crowded tubs. Some are crushed by the weight of those above and cannot move or see."

Live crustaceans crushed in crowded retail tubs

Retail store - Manchester, England

Crustaceans with 'little room to move in New Malden retail store. Observer "In a tank, little room to move, water looked dirty."

Crustaceans with little room to move in New Malden store

Retail store - New, England

Ten lobsters with claws bound kept in dirty tank in Nottingham supermarket. Observer "Live lobsters in dirty tank. Several lobsters in this tank with claws tied shut. No enrichment or hiding spaces in tank. Looked like there were around 10."

Claw-bound lobsters overcrowded in dirty Nottingham supermarket tank

Retail store - Nottingham, England

Restaurant promoting lobsters for Valentine's Day meals. Observer "Live lobsters in a tub saying the lobsters have arrived for Valentine's Day."

Restaurant promoting live lobsters for Valentine’s Day meals

Restaurant - Derby, England

Two crabs 'clearly alive' for sale in a high street market stall, stored in a polystyrene box.

Live crabs sold in polystyrene box at high street stall

Market stall - Gillingham, England

Multiple crustaceans stored live in tanks in front window of a fishmonger shop. Observer "They were all alive in tanks per species. There were loads of them in a tank, right in the window in bright lights. Cloudy water. Seeing them, especially in the window, was really upsetting. Incredibly inhumane and upset myself and my young son. Multiple live lobsters with bound claws; live cray fish, and live crabs in tanks in the window of the shop. Very distressing and upsetting. I think this is pretty new - I saw it this week."

Live crustaceans displayed in crowded window tanks at fishmonger

Fishmongers - London, England

Crabs and lobsters kept in tanks on pavement outside shop. Observer "In small tanks, some with lobster on own and some with crabs together. Not sure if any tanks are mixed. The tanks look very small for the creatures and the water is very cloudy and green. Always crabs and lobsters in small tanks on pavement front every day."

Crabs and lobsters kept in small pavement tanks

Retail store - London, England

Crabs and lobsters sold in chain retail store in New Malden. Observer "Lobsters in a tank divided into 3. The tank is approximately 120cm by 80cm so the middle section looks around 60cm wide & the outer two 30cm each. When I went in this evening there were 2 quite perky lobsters in the left tank, about 5-8 lobsters in the middle tank and at least 12 very inactive lobsters in the right hand tank all on top of each other. Hard to see how many in total because the water was quite cloudy despite the water running in from the top. I had to look a while to see if any in the full tank were moving & alive but a couple at the front were moving their antennae. When I went in on Saturday there were about 3 large crabs in the left hand tank. The lobsters claws are taped up. I can’t remember if the crabs claws were taped. Ongoing since the store opened in September 2025. "

Overcrowded claw-bound lobsters in New Malden chain supermarket

Retail store - New, England

Lobsters and crabs in dirty water tanks in busy food hall in Peterborough. Observer "Lobsters, claws tied, in tank in window. There appeared to be a lot, some on top of each other, water looked dirty. Also live crabs in another tank, water dirty, claws tied. They appeared to have more room to move than lobsters."

Lobsters and crabs kept in dirty tanks at Peterborough food hall

Fishmongers - Peterborough, England

Live crabs 'barely moving' in crowded conditions in a supermarket in Sheffield. Observer "The crabs were in a small tank. One was on its back. They were all barely moving and crowded together."

Barely moving live crabs in crowded Sheffield supermarket tank

Retail store - Sheffield, England

Hundreds of crustaceans for sale in Cardiff supermarket. Observer "Six tanks, two for each species. Two types of crab and lobsters - I don't know enough about crustaceans to tell what species. Around 30 lobsters, 40 of crab 1, and it was hard to tell but surely 50+ of crab 2. They all appeared to be alive but they moved very infrequently so it was slightly hard to tell. The lobsters and one of the two crab types had very little room but were at least separate. But the other species of crab had so many there wasn't enough floor on the tank and they were stacked on top of each other in places."

Hundreds of live crustaceans overcrowded in Cardiff supermarket

Retail store - Cardiff, Wales

Live lobsters with their claws bound in a tank in overcrowded conditions in London fishmonger. Observer "It was so over crowded that some had got stuck between the filter and the glass and were piled on top of each and other and the ones at the bottom couldn't move at all let alone turn around. I spoke to 3 members of staff and they all said they were not keen on how the lobsters were kept but that it wasn't their choice it was the owner's decision. I then emailed the owner later that day. I also returned to the shop and the ones in the corner had been moved but they were still all piled on top of each other. The person I spoke to on my return said the tank wasn't busy at all and that I should have seen it at Christmas as besides they would all be dead soon. He said they no longer could boil them and I said omg you were boiling them and then he back tracked."

Severely overcrowded claw-bound lobsters in London fishmonger tank

Fishmongers - London, England

Injured lobster seen in London fishmongers. Observer "I have seen the tank being overfilled with lobsters before, recently I saw one being kept in there that was visibly injured with its claw cut off."

Injured lobster kept alive in overfilled London fishmonger tank

Fishmongers - London, England

Crustaceans 'stacked on top of each other' in London restaurant. Observer "The crustaceans are stacked on top of each other in a cube-shaped tank! It’s absolutely shameful, and I have photos as proof."

Crustaceans stacked on top of each other in restaurant tank

Restaurant - London, England

In this Peterborough market, live crustaceans sold in dirty water. Observer "Upside down, pincers tied and in extremely dirty water."

Live crustaceans upside down in filthy water at Peterborough market

Fishmongers - Peterborough, England

Live crabs and lobsters for sale in a tank in Peterborough market.

Live crabs and lobsters sold in Peterborough market tank

Fishmongers - Peterborough, England

Crustaceans sold in a busy food hall location. Observer "I witnessed a tank of taped lobsters, and other crustaceans in a dirty tank and one large lobster laying on its back. I took a photograph. The water looked dirty, the large lobster was laying in its back, alive and moving its mouth parts but not able to turn over, there were several others in the tank."

Lobster unable to turn over

Fishmongers - Peterborough, England

Live lobsters for sale and kept 'out of sight' for cooking in the café premises.

Live lobsters kept out of sight for café food preparation

Café - Newquay, England

Lobster sold in a retail store, claw-bound and piled high. Observer "The lobsters were in a tank, at least 5 of them. Some on top of each other. At first I thought they were dead, but then I noticed some movement of gills. The water looked fairly clean. There was no food. The claws were bound."

Claw-bound lobsters piled together in retail store tank

Retail store - North, Wales

Croydon supermarket selling multiple crustaceans in 'extremely cramped conditions'. Observer "There were four (?) tanks. Each tank had the same species in (as far as I could see). They all looked alive to me, but they were piled on top of each other in extremely cramped conditions."

Multiple crustaceans kept in extremely cramped Croydon supermarket tanks

Retail store - Croydon, England

London supermarket displaying live crustaceans in window. Observer "Approx. 6 live lobsters in a water tank in the window of the supermarket. There appeared to be bubbles/oxygen in clear water but difficult to state how clean. The poor lobsters had their claws taped up and were not moving. "

Live claw-bound lobsters displayed motionless in London supermarket window

Retail store - London, England

Fishmongers selling live crustaceans with claws bound. Observer "Crabs and lobsters were alive. There approx. 30. Some crabs were in clean water. Lobsters and another type of crab were bound tightly and lobsters had claws clamped. These were on ice."

Fishmongers selling claw-bound live crustaceans, some kept on ice

Fishmongers - Milton, England

Lobsters were piled on top of each other in a 'murky looking tank' in the front window of a fishmonger. Observer "There are lobsters piled on top of each other, claws tied in a murky looking tank that is on display in the front window of the fishmonger. It's a horrible sight and I feel it's very cruel. The lobsters are ongoing and in a tank in the front window permanently."

Lobsters piled in murky display tank at fishmonger window

Fishmongers - Fife, Scotland

Crabs, lobsters often kept alive in glass boxes in a London retail store. Observer "One massive crab was trapped in a box on display in the window a few months ago. Possibly similar now."

Live crabs and lobsters kept in glass display boxes

Retail store - London, England

Live lobsters and crabs cramped together in a very small tank. Observer "I was with my 9 year old daughter and she was quite worked up about what we saw. There were lobsters and crabs in a very small tank, they were alive but tied up . I wish I took a picture it was over 10 all crammed together."

Lobsters and crabs cramped together in very small tank

Retail store - New, England

Live lobsters were being kept on display on ice, no water or water tanks, with taped claws. Observer "Alive lobsters on ice on display. Apart from ice, no water, no water tank. Looks like they are left like that all day taped claws. Made us feel very uncomfortable seeing them with their eyes looking around, trying to move & worried long-term just on ice, they sure need water bath for their breathing abilities. Staff wasn’t fussed on welfare. "

Live lobsters displayed on ice without water all day

Fishmongers - Northampton, England

In this shop in Exeter both crabs and lobsters were being sold alive. Observer "There are lobsters in at least one tank, along with stacks of crabs, crammed up in a tank."

Crabs and lobsters crammed alive in Exeter shop tank

Retail store - Exeter, England

A fishmongers stall in busy London market with live crustaceans in dirty brown water. Observer "Had three very small tanks one on top of the other. All had live lobster and I think crayfish in. None of the tanks had what I would describe as clean water. The top tanks water was very brown."

Live crustaceans kept in dirty brown water at London market stall

Fishmongers - London, England

Lobster kept alive on ice in a busy food outlet in London. Observer "There was one lobster on display on ice with it's claws tied. I am not sure if there were any more not on display but I didn't look, there were probably were."

Lobster kept alive on ice in busy London food outlet

Food outlet - London, England

Crustaceans in cramped condition in Welsh town centre shop. Observer "There are many of them cramped in a tiny tank stacked on top of each other for sale, barely able to move. They all looked same species. Some not moving. I noticed it solely due to someone else’s distressed children asking questions."

Crustaceans severely overcrowded in tiny Welsh town centre tank

Retail store - North, Wales

City centre supermarket selling live crustaceans in 'suffocating' conditions. Observer "Suffocating numbers of lobsters and crabs pulled into small water tanks."

City centre supermarket overcrowding crabs and lobsters in small tanks

Retail store - Manchester, England

Retail store selling live crabs and lobsters. Observer "Lifeless crab and lobsters tied up, crabs in small tanks."

Live crabs and lobsters tied and lethargic in retail store

Retail store - London, England

Shop in North Wales with live lobsters. Observer "Tiny tank. Saw 3 lobsters. All alive."

Live lobsters kept in tiny tank at North Wales shop

Retail store - North, Wales

Lobsters kept on ice in London restaurant. Observer "Lobster were on ice in an open display as one walks into the main restaurant area on the right hand side (past reception). I asked a waiter if the lobster were alive (they appeared to be but I checked it wasn’t a model/not real). He explained and seemed proud that it was indeed alive. I explained the problem with this practice (I’m a vet). My partner during dinner spoke to the restaurant manager who replied that it would be removed. I am well aware it may be removed until we have left or it would return the next day but in fact nothing was done whilst we were there."

Live lobsters displayed on ice in London restaurant

Restaurant - London, England

Lobsters sold alive in a fishmongers. Observer "Lobsters with their claws tied in a tank."

Lobsters sold alive with claws tied in fishmongers tank

Fishmongers - London, England

London restaurant storing crustaceans in front window. Observer "Lobsters/crabs in front window. They are suffering util they end up on someone’s plate, they are suffocating in a tiny tank and clearly in distress."

Lobsters and crabs stored in cramped front window tanks

Restaurant - London, England

This busy retail shop had multiple tanks of live crabs and lobsters, some in quite dirty water. Observer "There are 10 tanks on display at the front of the supermarket (in front of a very busy & noisy main road). Behind the tanks on display there are more tanks (which are less visible from street level) - the conditions for the lobsters and crabs in these tanks are more over crowded; in one tank I saw around 12 crabs, sitting on top of each other, not moving and with limited space even if they wanted to move. All the lobsters have their main pincher claws bound shut, including those in tanks on their own. In all cases the crabs and lobsters were not moving - they seemed subdued. However species were not mixed together. The water in some of the tanks appeared quite dirty."

Multiple overcrowded tanks of live crustaceans in busy retail shop

Retail store - London, England

This tank of live lobsters was found in a local shop in Wales. The lobsters were alive and in clean looking water, but were cramped and pile on top of each other with vey little room to move.

Live lobster piled high in a tank in a local shop

Fishmongers - Wales

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