Crabs are super-cute creatures who usually walk sideways with their 10 legs, but actually are able to walk in all directions. They communicate by drumming and waving their pincers and (like octopuses) have 360 degree vision, so can see in all directions.
Crustacean Compassion campaigns to stop the sale of live crustaceans in shops (and online retailers that send them to people’s homes) and wants an end to non-trained people being able to kill them (presently, the only ‘humane’ death is using stunning equipment that most people don’t have).
The charity also wants an end to selling live creatures in tanks (it also campaigns for cephalopods: octopus (sometimes eaten alive), squid (used for calamari) and cuttlefish (dried versions are often used to entertain budgies). Also read of reasons not to eat lobsters .
Did you know that it’s proven that declawed crabs try to shield and nurse their wounds? So they do feel pain (confirmed by science) and don’t let any chef tell you otherwise.
Sign the petition to ask the government to make it illegal to kill crustaceans inhumanely, send them in the post or keep them alive in tanks for human sale and consumption.
When doing surveys with supermarkets, it found that all (bar Marks & Spencer and Waitrose) have hardly any welfare policy for selling crustaceans. Even though by law, they are now recognised as sentient beings under the 2022 Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act.
Understanding Crab Sentience
Crabs, like many animals, have a central nervous system. It’s not as complex as ours, but it’s still significant. Research has shown that crabs react to unpleasant stimuli in a way that suggests discomfort.
They produce stress hormones akin to those found in mammals experiencing pain. The brain structure, while simple, is enough to imply these creatures might feel pain just as we do.
Crabs behave in ways that point to a capacity for experience. They seek out safe spaces, avoid harmful environments, and even engage in play-like activities. These actions hint at an ability to feel both suffering and joy.
Sometimes, they even show signs of remembering past experiences, altering their behaviour accordingly. It’s a lot more than just mindless scuttling.
View Crabs From Afar (rather than go ‘crabbing’)
If you want to learn more about crabs, read Life Between the Tides that teaches about the creatures that inhabit our shoreline.
How do sandhoppers inherit an inbuilt compass from their parents? How do crabs understand the tides? How can the death of one winkle, guarantee the lives of its companions? What does a prawn know?
Crabbing may be popular, but letting children catch and then release creatures scares them, and many are injured, once returned to the sea. Just let children watch from afar.
Environmental Challenges Facing Crabs
Take plastic pollution. It’s wreaking havoc on crab habitats, especially for hermit crabs. Fragments of plastic clutter their living spaces.
Hermit crabs need shells to survive, but plastic debris misleads them, resulting in fatal outcomes. It’s a startling example of how human waste becomes a peril for these tiny creatures.
Never pick seashells from the beach, as hermit crabs and other tiny creatures are sometimes living inside them.
Thankfully, there are conservation efforts underway. Various projects focus on cleaning beaches and preserving natural habitats.
These initiatives aim to keep crabs safe and sound, protecting their homes from our mess. They’re vital for ensuring crabs can continue to thrive. Spreading awareness and taking action are steps we all can take.
Plant-Based Alternatives to Crab
But there’s good news. You don’t have to give up the flavour you love. Plant-based crab alternatives are entering the scene. They offer similar tastes without the ethical baggage.
Not only are they kinder, but they’re better for the planet too. They reduce the environmental strain of traditional fishing methods. Compassionate dining can be delicious, after all.
Vegan Crab Cakes (A Couple Cooks) also uses hearts of palm (again sub with canned artichoke hearts) along with old bay spice. Use multi-stemmed hearts of palm if using for sustainability, or just sub with canned artichokes, which have no issues.
Avoid seaweed for thyroid/iodine issues. Read food safety for people & pets (many human foods including mushrooms are unsafe around animal friends).
Artichoke Crab Cakes (It Doesn’t Feel Like Chicken) are simple to make, and add a little nori seaweed, to make them tasty ‘fishy’.
Look in stores for vegan crab cakes by Good Catch and The Plant-Based Seafood Company (both endorsed by top chefs). Recycle packaging at kerbside or supermarket bag bins.
