Legally Sentient - What Does This Mean?
Hey everyone!
I wanted to investigate what has been happening this week regarding octopi and crabs being legally recognised as sentient creatures under UK law, because I found a few different pieces that contradicted the information. I couldn’t work out what the legal requirements were when cooking animals alive, because with these creatures unfortunately it’s really common place. The laws basically have shifted to consider them, alongside all the animals with backbones, as sentient creatures that can feel pain and emotions. I think this is a really strange category because anything with a nervous system could be argued to be sentient under this example, which is great. But the laws don’t specifically ban cruelty, they just limit the way in which the animals are cooked and killed. You can’t pluck their eyes out, cook them live without stunning, or even be sold to an unprofessional, which I guess is someone who is not a fisherman or a chef? Again it’s quite dubious.
I would love to move away from the cruelty focus that many animal rights organisations have focused on, and look at the methods we can implement to change peoples mindset and life choice. I really was impressed with Seaspiracy and how they showed the wider impact of the fishing industry on actual people, because we can see how the bigger picture really works. As cruel as eating animals is, people have rationalised it after generations and I don’t think you can break into some people by repeating how bad it is, and it’s shocking, but reality. The other parts of reality that I think does change peoples habits, is showing them the economical and health impact that eating dodgy fish and animals has on people living in a global pandemic, during an economic depression. We need to share more information about how people can reach the same nutritional goals and budget for a different lifestyle.
Here’s some pieces that goes into the bill in more detail. Let me know what you think.
‘Octopuses and animal sentience
While the British government has accommodated this new categorization, it will have no impact on existing industry practices in fishing and restaurants. This is notably where the vast majority of distress and pain is inflicted on animals such as crabs and lobsters.
LSE’s report advises specifically against declawing, nicking, eyestalk ablation, the sale of live crustaceans to untrained handlers, and extreme slaughter methods such as live boiling without stunning. All are common commercial practices today.
The analysis concluded that there is no evidence of a “humane and commercially viable” slaughter method for hyper-intelligent animals like octopuses. They are difficult to euthanize and it is likely that they experience extensive suffering at fisheries. Octopuses, like shrimp and many species of fish, are also transported and eaten alive as a delicacy.
Eating and cooking live animals is restricted in much of the world for animal welfare reasons, and it was previously reported that boiling lobsters alive and other controversial practices could be banned in the UK following LSE’s review of crustacean sentience.
But the British government maintains that the amended legislation is solely “to ensure animal welfare is well considered in future decision-making,” not to course-correct existing standards.’ - Live Kindly.
What Was Introduced in MAY 2021?
Government introduces Bill to formally recognise animals as sentient beings
Animal Sentience Committee will put animal sentience at heart of government policy
Bill introduced as part of government’s first of a kind Action Plan for Animal Welfare
Vertebrate animals will be recognised as sentient beings for the first time in UK law thanks to the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, introduced in Parliament today.
The legislation will also ensure that animal sentience is taken into account when developing policy across Government through the creation of a Animal Sentience Committee which will be made up of animal experts from within the field.
By enshrining sentience in domestic law in this way, any new legislation will have to take into account the fact that animals can experience feelings such as pain or joy. The Bill will underpin the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which launched yesterday and sets out the government’s plans to improve standards and eradicate cruel practices for animals both domestically and internationally.
The Bill’s introduction, fulfilling a key Manifesto commitment, will further the UK’s position as a world-leader on animal welfare. Now that we have left the EU we have the opportunity to remake laws and go further to promote animal welfare by making sure that all Government departments properly consider animal sentience when designing policy, covering all vertebrate animals from farm to forest.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill will:
formally recognise animals as sentient beings in domestic law
establish an Animal Sentience Committee made up of experts to ensure cross departmental government policy considers animal sentience
ensure Government Ministers update parliament on recommendations made by the Animal Sentience Committee
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill AMENDED IN Nov 2021:
Crabs, octopus and lobsters to be recognised as sentient beings in government policy decision making
Decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs will be recognised under the scope of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill
Amendment to Bill follows London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) scientific research findings on decapod and cephalopod sentience
Existing industry practices will not be affected and there will be no direct impact on shellfish catching or in restaurant kitchens
The scope of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill has today been extended to recognise lobsters, octopus and crabs and all other decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs as sentient beings.
The move follows the findings of a government-commissioned independent review by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) which concluded there is strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs are sentient.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill already recognises all animals with a backbone (vertebrates) as sentient beings. However, unlike some other invertebrates (animals without a backbone ), decapod crustaceans and cephalopods have complex central nervous systems, one of the key hallmarks of sentience.
Today’s announcement will not affect any existing legislation or industry practices such as fishing. There will be no direct impact on the shellfish catching or restaurant industry. Instead, it is designed to ensure animal welfare is well considered in future decision-making. - http://www.gov.uk