Animal welfare risks from commercial practices involving cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans

2025/01/01 by Heather Browning, Charlotte C. Burn, Alexandra K. Schnell +2 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Veterinary · #Cephalopods and Marine Biology #Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia #Meat and Animal Product Quality

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/awf.2025.25

Abstract

There is increasing recognition that the welfare needs of cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans are important. Current commercial practices involving these animals include a range of potential threats to their welfare, such as conditions of farming, capture, transport, and slaughter. This article draws from and updates our 2021 review for the UK Government, recommending a range of relatively simple and impactful changes that could benefit welfare while highlighting important research gaps that should be prioritised to facilitate the drafting of guidelines for best-practice.

Citations

• Can crayfish take the heat?Procambarus clarkiishow nociceptive behaviour to high temperature stimuli, but not low temperature or chemical stimuli

Discussions

• We've just published a new paper, outlining some of the key welfare risks in commercial practices that use cephalopods and decapods, with some recommendations for change and future research directions [bsky, 9 points, 1 comments]

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