Crustacean Compassion reach boiling point – ban boiling crabs and lobsters alive!
- Crustacean Compassion
- Oct 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 31
One of the most painful yet frequently used practices to kill decapod crustaceans is boiling alive. Millions of animals are suffering, and we knew we needed to do something about it.
On Tuesday 21 October, our team at Crustacean Compassion gathered outside Parliament for our Boiling Point demonstration, calling on Defra to finally ban the horrific practice of boiling crabs and lobsters alive! Joined by fellow animal welfare advocates, MPs, and other animal welfare
organisations including Compassion in World Farming, Animal Aid, Humane World for Animals and The Animal Law Foundation, we stood united in demanding compassion for decapod crustaceans.
With our incredible ambassador Wendy Turner-Webster and her father (who is 96 years old!) by our sides and our banner raised, we had a strong collective voice in our message to newly appointed Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds: BAN BOILING ALIVE!
"Boiling animals alive is a cruel practice that has no place today. Scientific evidence clearly shows animals like crabs and lobsters can feel pain, yet they remain unprotected under legalisation and the suffering continues, unchecked. We’re urging the government to act swiftly to end this needless cruelty." Wendy Turner Webster, ambassador for Crustacean Compassion.
The atmosphere in Parliament Square was buzzing. Tourists and passers-by stopped to ask questions, take photos, and show support. Many were shocked to learn that boiling alive still happens in the UK, and wanted to know how they could help. Some of the comments we received included:
‘Isn’t this already illegal?’ ‘What can we do to help stop this?’ ‘Can I join in and take photos and share on my social media channels?’ ‘I totally agree, crabs and lobsters need our help’
Public support is simmering
These reactions reflect a growing public awareness and shared belief that this cruelty practice has to end. Ahead of the event, we conducted our polling* to better understand public attitudes. The results speak volumes:
65% of people support a ban on boiling crabs and lobsters alive
75% support humane slaughter methods for decapod crustaceans in restaurants
Defra promised action, but haven’t delivered
Since crustaceans were included in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, we’ve waited for meaningful protections to follow. That should have marked a turning point. Yet despite overwhelming scientific consensus that these animals feel pain, there are still no regulations, no legislation, and no safeguards in place to alleviate unnecessary suffering.
Defra promised to publish guidelines on humane slaughter of decapods this year - guidelines that should outlaw boiling alive. But with fewer than 10 weeks left in 2025, we’re still waiting. The delay is unacceptable, and we’ve reached boiling point with the government’s inertia.
This year alone, almost 4,000 actions have been taken urging Defra to act now on decapod crustacean welfare. Our supporters have sent emails and postcards demanding long-promised guidelines on humane slaughter for crustaceans.
Our CEO Dr Ben Sturgeon explains: “When live, conscious decapod crustaceans are placed into a pot of boiling water, they endure several minutes of excruciating pain before they die. This is torture for crabs and lobsters 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.”
Kinder Kitchens: a crustacean compassion solution
At Crustacean Compassion, we don’t just highlight problems—we offer solutions. That’s why we launched our Kinder Kitchens campaign, a practical project designed to help chefs and restaurants adopt high-welfare practices for decapod crustaceans, from sea to plate through their kitchens, ensuring that compassion is on the menu.
A key focus of the campaign is eliminating inhumane killing practices in kitchens and, encouragingly, we're seeing a real appetite for change. Culinary professionals are asking for guidance and embracing humane methods like electrical stunning, which renders crustaceans unconscious before they're killed, preventing them from feeling pain.
With our Kinder Kitchens campaign we're supporting the transition and helping the industry prepare for a future where boiling alive is no longer acceptable. To make this shift easier, we've partnered with Mitchell and Cooper to offer chefs or restaurants the opportunity to trial the Crustastun machine, a leading device for humane electrical stunning.
If you are a culinary professional interested in exploring humane methods, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Kinder Kitchens project lead, Corporate Engagement Advisor Jane here
We’ve reached boiling point – it’s time to act
Millions of crabs and lobsters are boiled alive every year in UK kitchens. It’s an age-old tradition that has nothing to do with taste, it’s simply what’s always been done. But tradition should never justify cruelty.
We have the science.
We have the public support.
We have a moral obligation.
Defra must act now. Publish the guidelines. Ban boiling alive. Make 2025 the year Britain leads with compassion.
Decapod crustaceans may not have voices - but we do. And we’ll keep speaking up until the law reflects compassion, and boiling alive is banned for good.
*All figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,223 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th - 25th February 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
