Crustacean Compassion

Along with 42 animal protection groups and legal experts, we have written to the Welsh Government on a matter of legal urgency.

In December 2025, the English government acknowledged in its Animal Welfare Strategy that boiling decapod crustaceans – such as lobsters and crabs – alive, is not an acceptable killing method and is incompatible with existing law. The same legal provision applies in Wales.

We are calling on Cymru's new government to follow suit and publish official guidance to end this cruel practice.

🦞 Fun Fact Friday 🦞

Did you know that crayfish use specialised limbs to carefully find, grab and handle their food first?

A recent study on Australian redclaw crayfish found that they rely heavily on their second pair of walking legs to scan for food, grasp it, and pass it to their mouthparts. Young crayfish are especially meticulous, often picking up, rolling, releasing and re-grasping food before finally eating it.

The researchers also discovered that juvenile crayfish take up to 2.5 times longer to capture and consume food than larger adults, highlighting how feeding ability changes throughout their lives.

🌟 On Tuesday 30 June, we were delighted to attend The League Against Cruel Sports Summer Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons, kindly sponsored by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb.

Bringing together animal welfare organisations, supporters and MPs, the event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate progress for animals and discuss the work still needed to create a kinder future.

We heard from a range of inspiring speakers about the League’s achievements to date and their ongoing mission to end hunting, cruel animal sports and shooting practices.

Events like these are so important in keeping animal welfare firmly on the political agenda, and we were proud to stand alongside so many dedicated campaigners committed to ending animal cruelty.

Thank you to the League Against Cruel Sports for hosting such an engaging and inspiring afternoon.

Hope for the UK’s only native crayfish 🦀

In Derbyshire, white‑clawed crayfish have been carefully rescued after the arrival of non‑native signal crayfish, which share the same habitat but can unintentionally introduce disease that the native species cannot survive.

More than 80 have now been moved to a protected “ark” site, giving them the best possible chance to recover and thrive.

It’s a positive example of people stepping in to protect wildlife and restore balance where it’s been disrupted.

And it’s encouraging to see stories like this being covered—because all crustaceans, native or not, deserve understanding, and protecting biodiversity starts with paying attention.

'Race against time' to rescue native crayfish from Derbyshire brook A rescue mission was launched to take the aquatic animals to a safe location.