The food and aquaculture industries should reconsider how they treat live crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and lobsters. That’s according to a Queen’s University Belfast researcher who has found that crabs are likely to feel pain.
The latest study by Professor Bob Elwood and Barry Magee from Queen’s School of Biological Sciences looked at the reactions of common shore crabs to small electrical shocks, and their behaviour after experiencing those shocks. The research has been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
The experiment was carefully designed to distinguish between pain and a reflex phenomenon known as nociception. Ninety crabs were each introduced individually to a tank with two dark shelters. On selecting their shelter of choice, some of the crabs were exposed to an electric shock. When they were put back into the tank for the third time, the vast majority of shocked crabs went to the alternative safe shelter and those who were not shocked continued to use their preferred shelter.
Whether or not crustaceans experience pain remains widely debated, however this study shows that shore crabs are willing to trade something of value to them – in this case a dark shelter – to avoid future electric shock.
The research highlights the need to investigate how crustaceans used in food industries, such as crabs, prawns and lobsters are treated.
For more information, visit Queen’s University Belfast School of Biological Sciences website.