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Ankhsy
Homosapien
United Kingdom
7861 Posts |
 Posted - 12 July 2009 : 6:13:00 PM
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ANIMAL welfare legislation generally applies only to vertebrates. There are, however, moves to include invertebrates. Proposed changes to European law, for example, would extend welfare laws to crabs and lobsters. Up to now the only invertebrate protected is the common octopus.
"Invertebrate rights" has become a campaigning issue. Advocates for Animals recently produced a report which concludes that there is "potential for experiencing pain and suffering" in crustaceans. The group is particularly concerned about boiling lobsters alive. The wider public is also showing interest. Research supposedly demonstrating that hermit crabs feel and remember pain received worldwide news coverage (Animal Behaviour, vol 77, p 1243). I find the evidence unconvincing.
One key argument put forward for protecting crustaceans hinges on similarities between their nervous systems and our own. Such similarities are taken as prima facie evidence that mammals feel pain. Surely this applies to invertebrates too?
It is true that crustaceans have neural systems similar in some respects to those involved in human pain, but there are also important differences. The brains of lobsters and crabs have only 100,000 neurons compared with 100 billion in mammals. Their nerves conduct signals 100 times more slowly, and their brains lack the higher centres necessary for a mammal to suffer pain.
Crustaceans have neural systems similar to those involved in human pain, but there are differences too
Just because the components of a complex system are there does not mean that the system itself is in place. Crabs can hear, but are unlikely to appreciate opera. The superficial similarity between crustacean and mammalian brains does not necessarily mean that crabs experience pain.
As for lobsters in boiling water, sensory nerves from crabs living in temperate waters fail irreversibly at 25 °C, about the temperature of tepid bath water. This procedure is not inhumane.
Extending welfare to crustaceans would be a mistake. They are useful animals for research on nervous systems. Hopefully common sense and the basic scientific facts should dictate that invertebrates remain outside the legislation.
Peter Fraser is at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He studies crabs as a model of the human vestibular system
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus.
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Simon Scarrow
Ape
Uruguay
1048 Posts |
Posted - 12 July 2009 : 8:10:14 PM
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Ah, erm, I hate to rain on the parade of Eurocrats (actually I hope it pisses down on them), but haven't they got something better to do than draft legislation for crabs? Surely we could get round this one the same way the crucifiction officer did in Life of Brian. Send a eurocrat to meet with the crustacean delegation and ask 'All those in favour of crab rights, raise your hand.' Should settle that one quickly enough.
This is the thin end of the carapace though. Where do we go next? Equal opportunities for flu viruses? Reminds me of that episode of Star Trek Next Gen when a microscopic danger threatens the ship and crew yet they have to treat it with kid gloves because it has a right to exist and might one day become sentient.
Until that day I shall continue enjoying Cromer crabs thanks. |
Edited by - Simon Scarrow on 12 July 2009 8:11:27 PM |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 12 July 2009 : 8:17:54 PM
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oh for fudge sake!
Centurion Parmenion
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Beerswimmer
Invertebrate
USA
119 Posts |
Posted - 14 July 2009 : 05:04:50 AM
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We like crabs in Alaska too.
With butter!
UT ALII VIVANT!!!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” |
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Mace
Small mammal
United Kingdom
738 Posts |
Posted - 14 July 2009 : 07:31:50 AM
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Butter? Must be a better cream to treat it than that...
"My Mom says I'm cool"
Millhouse. |
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Do Crabs have rights?
