It’s summer, and as many head to the beach with hopes of enjoying fresh seafood, the practice of killing live lobsters in boiling water is drawing new attention.
Around the world, many are beginning to question the commonly accepted methods for killing crustaceans. In March, a group of British scientists published a report stating that shellfish can process pain.
Legislation is already in place globally to protect crustacean rights. New Zealand counts shellfish on its list of animals protected by animal rights laws, Reggio Emilia, Italy forbids the boiling of lobsters and the British Shellfish Network dutifully advocates for lobster liberties. The recent influx of scientific experiments on crustacean pain tolerance and the rise in underwater animal activists has led many to ponder “can killing lobsters be humane?”
An article in The Atlantic explores the debate behind slaughtering lobsters.
Two words: lethal injection. If it’s good enough for criminals, it’s good enough for crustaceans.
On a vaguely related note, PETA wants California to rename Pescadero State Beach to Sea Kitten State Beach. In exchange, it will pay to keep the beach open. BTW, the town of Pescadero has an exceptional restaurant called Duartes which grows their own vegetables and makes their own pies. Uncle Dave recommended!
See those imported spiny lobster tails on the freezer section on supermarket? THEY WERE RIPPED FROM THE LOBSTERS WHILE THEY WERE STILL ALIVE AND WIGGLING. Only until recently that people realized that the lobsters’ head could make great mariner’s soup, otherwise they would throw the still living dieing animal into the water.
Go to the Eastern Shore and get a bowl of real she-crab soup, with roe in it. Put’s the lobster to shame. Not that I don’t eat lobster. I don’t think I ever met a seafood I didn’t like, or could at least tolerate well enough to eat it.
that ass is pure and simple perfection.
Wow. Some of the comments here show that many people whom live in “civilized” societies haven’t really evolved much from savages. Why take [empathy] an unselfish aspect of human evolution that positively separates most of us from animals and vilify it? This is not about excluding Lobster from being eaten. It’s about dispatching the creature in the quickest and most painless way possible. It’s a credit to the human race that most of us even care. Some of the self presumed knowledgeable animal pain experts here would take greater consideration if a bunch of cannibals gave them various options on how they were killed before eaten. It’s easy to be callous towards other creatures [even people] when you can find a way to demean them. In response to another post, animals already do the best they can with their abilities to quickly kill their meals.
I think they should scientifically research this to a conclusion and then have it mandated by including instructions on the “proper way to kill” them in the shipment of all live lobsters. How can that be deemed anything but positive to our humanity?
PS. I would rather be shot in the woods by a hunter than face the slaughterhouse.
IMHO, the ass is too big but quite as disgusting as tits of similar misproportions.
Killing creatures humanely is well, human. Note the common letters.
If there is an opportunity to be less barbaric in how we use natural resources, I say take it.
what is all the talk about lobsters and humane killing? am I missing something?
The quickest way to kill a lobster?
Let it pinch your finger….
Is that ass for real? holy s***
The things are nothing but over sized friggin’ ugly bugs to me. Smash them, boil them, electrocute them for all I care.
PETA needs to find a worthy fight instead of this bogus BS.
Well, all the people who are crying about this had better not kill a cockroach, considering that the two are pretty close relatives.
#35: “PS. I would rather be shot in the woods by a hunter than face the slaughterhouse.”
Dick Cheney might be able to oblige.
I’m sure that just about all animals can feel pain. You don’t have to be very self aware to notice pain.
There is no off switch. Some insects can live for days without a head. They just don’t die fast but thermal shock may work about as well as anything on a cold blooded water dwelling animal.
In some countries, stabbing a pig in the neck is the common way to slaughter. That is quite disgusting unless the pig is Rush Limbaugh.
I’ve seen on Top Chef where they rip lobsters in half bare handed and toss them on the frypan, their legs still wiggling.
#46 What did I say to offend you? Killing animals humanely or the stabbing of a pig in the neck?
He’s welcome to try if he’s up for a fair fight.
#42 :#35: “PS. I would rather be shot in the woods by a hunter than face the slaughterhouse.”
Dick Cheney might be able to oblige.
I try not to do this but it’s gotta be said: That is the most perfect set of legs and thighs I have ever seen. So refreshing compared to the near curveless androgenics they push up the runways today.
Oh, and lobster are delicious.