Animal welfare policies & position statements
Crustacean Compassion has policies and position statements on the stunning, slaughter, and mutilation of animals like crabs, lobsters, prawns & crayfish (decapod crustaceans).
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To access our position statement on each of these topics, select the below boxes. Our full policy documents look into these topics in significant detail. For more information on how we came to form these positions, please email us, we're happy to provide further information upon enquiry:
Contact us: info@crustaceancompassion.org
Read our welfare policy on stunning of decapod crustaceans in preparation for slaughter.
Statement on Horseshoe Crabs
Crustacean Compassion's work is focused exclusively on decapod crustaceans. Horseshoe crabs have a misleading name, as while other crabs are decapods, they are in fact arthropods. Although we do not work on horseshoe crabs, we do acknowledge the severe welfare issues they face. For more information on horseshoe crabs, please see the following resources:
Infographic: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab.
Report: Horseshoe crabs and the pharmaceutical industry: challenges and alternatives.
Statement on Decapod Crustacean Die-offs
In light of the lack of definitive evidence surrounding the causes of mass crustacean die-offs, Crustacean Compassion advocates for a precautionary and restorative approach. This includes urgent investigation into causal factors, the implementation of mitigation measures during dredging activities, routine monitoring of novel pathogens in wild crustacea, and the integration of rewilding and restoration into industrial oceanic development.
Furthermore, financial support for affected fishers is essential, and marine ecosystem management must be embedded within key legislative frameworks, including the Environment Act 2021 (with a mandated 10% Biodiversity Net Gain), the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.