Study challenges belief crabs don’t feel the pinch

The food industry is being asked to reconsider how they treat crustaceans after Belfast researchers found evidence that crabs are likely to feel pain.

Bob Elwood of Queen’s University said billions of crustaceans are caught or reared in aquaculture for the food industry, but they get little or no protection because of a common belief that they do not experience pain.

While restaurant practices of boiling lobsters alive and the killing of crabs are the subject of animal welfare concerns, some scientists say incorrect assumptions are made about the creatures’ nervous systems.

The testing at QUB showed that crabs reacted to electric shocks in a way consistent with pain, beyond more than a reflex response.

Some of the common shore crabs used in the experiment were put into a tank and given a shock after choosing one of two dark shelters, something of extreme value to the species as they seek protection from predators. Most returned to the same shelter after being put back in.

But when an electric shock was introduced again, the vast majority picked the other shelter when put into the water for a third time. However, the crabs which had not been shocked continued to use the preferred shelter.

Prof Elwood’s previous research showed that prawns and hermit crabs respond in a way consistent with pain. He said this latest study, carried out with QUB school of biological sciences colleague Barry Magee, provides further evidence.

“More consideration of the treatment of these animals is needed as a potentially very large problem is being ignored,” Prof Elwood said, after the research findings appeared in the Journal of Experimental Biology.