This argument has been going on for a long time about whether crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, and lobsters feel pain or not. It will be horrific if they do because of how we behave with them. So prepare yourself to discover the truth through scientific experimentation.
Recent experiments led to the conclusion that crabs and lobsters feel pain and they show a lot of symptoms related to pain.
Do crabs feel pain?
To put it simply, pain is an unpleasant emotional and sensory experience. A creature has to meet some criteria established by the scientists, such as nociceptors, behavioral changes, learning and memory, physiological responses, motivational trade-offs, and neurological structures- to be considered as it can feel pain.
Recent studies suggest that crustaceans have nervous systems similar to vertebrates, which indicates they could experience pain like humans. However, since we can’t truly understand a crab’s consciousness, it remains a complex and unsettling question.
Robert Elwood, a researcher from Queen’s University Belfast, and his friends did two experiments to find out if crustaceans can feel pain.
1- They took some hermit crabs (Pagurus bernhardus) and the crabs were carefully removed from their shells before testing. They offered new shells to the crabs to inhabit, and then they gave small electric shocks to the crabs while they were inside their shell.
Different crabs acted differently; fewer crabs left their shell, which indicates they were weighing the discomfort against the benefit of staying in a good shell and some attacked their own shell after leaving it. When researchers gave them a new shell, they approached more quickly to and were more likely to move in.
The research suggests they remembered the unpleasant pain and were motivated to avoid it in the future.
2- Another experiment was conducted with the shore crabs (Carcinus maenas). They gave the crabs a choice between two shelters. One shelter gave an electric shock, while the other was safe. The crabs quickly learned to avoid the shelter that was giving an electric shock every 5 seconds for up to 2 minutes. The experiment suggests they felt pain and that’s why they avoided the shelter with the shock, remembering the pain. Researchers found that shocked crabs had stronger stress responses.
The way a crab struggles when it is hooked indicates they really feel something. To ensure whether it is pain or trying to escape from the unpleasant object, National Geographic refers to the Elwood experiment as an assurance.
Now, think about how a small electric shock can cause a clear pain response in them—imagine the agony they must endure when being boiled or cut up alive.
However, this research can’t be evidence of feeling pain, as there are a few discussions that go against it – according to Zen Faulkes (University of Texas-Pan American neuroethologist). He pointed – the crabs that were used for the experiment feel pain, but that doesn’t mean all crustaceans do; crabs don’t regularly feel electroshock, so the unusual feelings made them behave like that, not the exact feeling of pain, and not all crabs learned to avoid shock; it’s unclear if the crabs that did avoid the shocks would remember to do so in the long term.
According to professor Jennifer Mather, there are problems with using electric shocks in experiments, as these may not accurately represent painful stimuli for crustaceans.
Before this study, it was assumed crusteans experienced nociception (it was the first obstacle to proving if crusteans felt pain)- Nociceptivity is not exactly pain; it is a reflexive response to potential damage, leading to actions like pulling away from a hot surface. Some people still believe that. However, the research by Elwood indicates crabs surely feel pain, as scientists got some real evidence, such as spiked levels of lactic acid in their haemolymph – crabs that were shocked. This fluid is similar to blood in humans, which is a clear physiological sign of stress. The pain doesn’t have to be similar to pain of humans.
“Mammals have a visual cortex that enables them to receive light and features from the environment; crustecia do not have a visual cortex like a mammalian cortex but nevertheless they can see. So you can have similarity of function but with different structures.” ~ Robert Elwood
Here is an interview with him
Another argument comes when crabs shed their own limbs for external reasons. If they really feel pain, then why do they do it, which is horrific for humans or other animals? Some researchers point out that crustaceans can lose and regrow limbs naturally, questioning the need for them to feel pain.
Do lobsters feel pain?
PETA filmed undercover the disturbing slaughter of lobsters in 2013
Lobsters don’t die of old age – they grow in size through their whole lifetime. Every time they grow, they have to go through a process called molting when they shed their exoskeleton. Molting becomes riskier as they get larger, and eventually, the process can become fatal and they die from expending too much energy during this process.
Or else they die from being eaten by the predators. Naturally, they can live more than 100 years. An American lobster named George was captured in December 2008 and released in 2009; his estimated age was 140 at that time, which would be like 150 years now if it is still alive.
An experiment was conducted with crayfish, which are similar to lobsters. In the experiment, crayfish exposed to a stressful electric field avoided dark areas in a maze, even after the field was removed. They became normal and calmed down when given a human anti-anxiety medication, allowing them to go into the dark areas. Serotonin is a brain chemical that was found in higher concentrations in stressed crayfish; injecting serotonin into unstressed crayfish also made them avoid dark areas.
This study shows that crayfish can feel a form of anxiety similar to that of humans and other vertebrates. This experiment can be applied to lobsters, crabs and shrimp.
Previous research by Elwood found that prawns reacted to acetic acid on their antennae by grooming and rubbing the affected area, a behavior indicative of pain. This challenges previous claims by Norwegian scientists who argued crustaceans’ nervous systems are too simple for pain perception.
Many scientists disagree with Elwood’s claim. They believe these reactions might simply be attempts to clean themselves, not indications of pain. They argue that crustaceans lack a complex nervous system to process pain like humans do.
#FAQs
Do crabs or lobsters feel pain when boiled or cooked?
All the evidence leads to the conclusion that, yes, they do feel pain. It is not measurable how intense the pain is, as we humans can’t transform into crustaceans. When you look at a crab or lobster being boiled alive, you will very much notice the hard struggle to escape the pain.
Why are lobsters cooked alive?
Lobsters and other shellfish harbor harmful bacteria in their flesh that can rapidly multiply and produce toxins once the lobster dies. These toxins are often resistant to heat, meaning that even thorough cooking may not eliminate them. Cooking lobsters alive minimizes the risk of food poisoning by ensuring that the bacteria do not have the opportunity to proliferate and release toxins.
Additionally, cooking lobsters alive is believed to enhance their flavor and texture, as the process ensures the meat remains fresh and tender. Therefore, to guarantee food safety and culinary quality, lobsters are often cooked while still alive.
Do crabs or lobstars feel pain when their claws or legs are ripped off?
Crabs and lobsters do feel pain when claws are ripped off manually. Unlike natural autotomy, manual removal causes significant stress and pain, as evidenced by behavioral and physiological responses. It’s a misconception that crabs don’t suffer from this practice.
Do crabs or lobsters scream when boiled alive?
Lobsters and crabs do not scream when boiled alive; they lack voice boxes. The sound is steam escaping from the shell. However, this doesn’t mean lobsters don’t suffer during boiling.
Do barnacles hurt crabs?
Barnacles generally do not harm crabs; they filter feed without causing harm. While some species are parasitic, most barnacles live harmlessly on various surfaces, including crabs.
Do crabs have emotions?
Crabs and other invertebrates can learn from pain and experience emotions, including positive and negative states. Research suggests they may have a broader emotional range beyond basic sensations like pain and pleasure.
Is it illegal to boil crabs or lobsters alive?
It is legal in most countries, including the USA. While boiling crustaceans alive is prohibited in Switzerland, Austria, Norway, and New Zealand, it is being considered in the UK. Belgium (the Brussels Council for Animal Welfare) suggests killing crustaceans electrically before cooking, saying it is a barbaric practice.
Some suggest the US should also ban killing crustaceans alive and authorities are often criticized for not even having a single federal animal welfare law that protects crustaceans or fish. As a result, countless lives have to suffer a slow and cruel death every year.
For awareness and protection, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill of the UK Government (November 2021) . has recognized decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs as sentient beings; based on strong scientific evidence.
