These animals were not seen as beings capable of feeling because they were invertebrates, although their nervous system is complex. British scientists are calling for an end to painful commercial and culinary practices.
The United Kingdom officially included decapod crustaceans (crabs, crayfish and crayfish) and cephalopod molluscs (octopus, squid and cuttlefish) in the group of sentient beings, that is, living beings capable of having emotions such as pain and anguish. The measure comes within the scope of an animal welfare (sentience) bill, after 50 institutions came together in May this year for the British government to redefine the care to be taken with animals, with a report entitled “Action For Animals” (Action for Animals). They called on the Government to consider all animals as sentient beings, with an Animal Sentience Committee (to be composed of animal experts) to hold ministers accountable for animal welfare violations, which will happen when the bill becomes law.
