Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Birch and colleagues have developed an important and useful framework for evaluating the evidence for sentience – namely, the capacity to experience pain, distress and suffering, in cephalopod molluscs (cuttlefish, octopods and squid) and decapod crustaceans (including crabs, crayfish, lobsters, prawns, shrimps). Birch and colleagues develop eight criteria in their evaluation framework which are used to weigh the evidence from over 300 scientific publications. The report also investigates the potential welfare implications of current commercial practices on these species. The report concludes that cephalopods and decapod crustaceans are probably sentient.
Recommended Citation
Birch, J, Burn, C, Schnell, A, Browning, H & Crump, A. 2021. Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans. LSE Consulting. LSE Enterprise Ltd. The London School of Economics and Political Science. Available at: https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/News-Assets/PDFs/2021/Sentience-in-Cephalopod-Molluscs-and-Decapod-Crustaceans-Final-Report-November-2021.pdf.
