The UK government has announced a ban on boiling live lobsters and crabs as part of a broader animal welfare strategy in England. Ministers stated that 'live boiling is not an acceptable killing method' for crustaceans, and alternative guidance will be published. The practice is already illegal in Switzerland, Norway, and New Zealand.
Animal welfare charities have welcomed the move, noting that stunning lobsters with an electric gun or chilling them before boiling is more humane. Ben Sturgeon, chief executive of Crustacean Compassion, said: 'When live, conscious animals are placed into boiling water, they endure several minutes of excruciating pain. This is torture and completely avoidable.'
The Labour strategy, announced on Monday, also includes outlawing hen cages and pig farrowing crates, ending puppy farming, consulting on banning electric shock collars for dogs, and introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish. The proposals tighten rules on hunting, including a ban on shooting hares during the breeding season and an end to trail hunting.
Labour pledged in its manifesto to extend the 2005 foxhunting ban to trail hunting, which animal welfare charities say is used as a 'smokescreen' to continue killing foxes. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticised the move as 'authoritarian control freakery', but polling suggests voters overwhelmingly support tougher hunting rules.
