Mercy for Lobsters

A lobster dinner starts by a living animal being thrown into boiling water and cooked to death. Another recipe even recommends to put the lobster in cold water, place a lid on the pot with a brick on top to prevent the animal from escaping its torture, and then slowly kill it by bringing the water gradually to the boil: So much cruelty for a dubious meal-"pleasure" of a few minutes. Is there no legislation anywhere to be seen in the interest of lobsters? Are they not entitled to protection? Do they not suffer from this absolutely disgusting treatment?

Of course, they do. According to experts, lobsters have sophisticated nerve centers and do feel the pain when cooked or cut. That becomes evident by their violent behaviour when in utmost distress and also, for everyone brave enough to listen, by their squeal, a sound caused by the air rushing out of their shells when they die a death that can take as long as 20 minutes.

That is why The Shellfish Network campaigns to stop the eating ofcrustaceans by stating, "Even if more humane methods of cooking are developed, there is still cruelty in the trapping and transporting methods."

To stop eating lobsters would avoid not only cruelty for these not very well know and hardly appreciated animals who can live up to 145 years but itwould also be a healthy move because they and other crustaceans are often highly contaminated with bacteria and pesticides.

The Shellfish Network, Springside Forest Road, East Horsely Surrey KT24 58Z, UK

E-mail: springside@connectfree.co.uk