![\"VegNews.GoodCatchVeganCrabCakes\"](\"https:\/\/vegnews.com\/media\/23661\/VegNews.GoodCatchVeganCrabCakes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/vegnews.com\/media\/W1siZiIsIjI1OTE0L1ZlZ05ld3MuTG9ic3Rlci5qcGciXSxbInAiLCJ0aHVtYiIsIjE2MDB4OTQ2IyIseyJmb3JtYXQiOiJqcGcifV0sWyJwIiwib3B0aW1pemUiXV0\/VegNews.Lobster.jpg?sha=0322efd24fe6a00b\")
Lobsters, octopuses, crabs, and other sea creatures are getting new protections in the United Kingdom after a government-commissioned report found that cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans have the capacity to feel pain. The report was compiled by the London School of Economics and Political Science where researchers examined 300 scientific studies to determine that these animals are sentient beings. Given the findings, the sea creatures will now be included in the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK has always led the way on animal welfare and our Action Plan for Animal Welfare goes even further by setting out our plans to bring in some of the strongest protections in the world for pets, livestock, and wild animals,\u201d Animal Welfare Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said in a statement. \u201cThe Animal Welfare Sentience Bill provides a crucial assurance that animal well being is rightly considered when developing new laws. The science is now clear that decapods and cephalopods can feel pain and therefore it is only right they are covered by this vital piece of legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside of the UK, boiling lobsters alive is also illegal in other regions around the world, including Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While reducing the amount of pain sentient beings feel when they are killed is a step in the right direction, choosing vegan seafood negates the need to kill them in the first place. Luckily, this sector of the plant-based food industry has been growing exponentially with many options available around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the UK, seafood alternatives are plentiful, with VBites fish filets available as a seamless substitute for traditional fish and chips. In Europe, food giant Nestl\u00e9<\/a> just launched konjac-based vegan shrimp under its Garden Gourmet brand, which already offered Sensational Vuna (vegan tuna) available in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Hong Kong, OmniFoods\u2014known for its popular pork alternatives<\/a>\u2014is also getting into the vegan seafood business with the launch of its OmniSeafood line. Earlier this month, Starbucks<\/a> began serving the brand\u2019s Omni Crab Cakes as part of a salad at its 170 Hong Kong locations, marking the first time the coffee giant has featured vegan seafood on its menu.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the US, vegan brand Good Catch has been expanding the presence of its plant-based seafood products, which are made from a proprietary blend of six beans and legumes. While Good Catch\u2019s seafood products\u2014which include pouches of tuna, crab cakes, and fish filets\u2014have been on retail shelves since 2019, this year, the brand is making its way onto restaurant menus, including at traditional fish-centric chains such as Long John Silver\u2019s<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to plant-based seafood alternatives, new developments in cellular aquaculture means that real fish, crab, and lobster meat can be made without the need to slaughter sea animals. In Singapore, Shiok Foods<\/a> is growing real crab meat from a small amount of animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment (similar to a greenhouse). In September, the startup had its first public tasting at local restaurant Kubaya where guests sampled cell-based shrimp in a Tom Yum Soup and cell-based lobster in Lobster Potato Chips\u2014all made without the need to kill sentient beings by boiling them, alive or otherwise.\u00a0<\/p>\n For more about fish-free seafood, read:<\/strong>Bumble Bee\u2019s New Venture Makes Vegan Seafood Widely Available<\/em><\/a>TIME Names Vegan Tuna One of the 100 Best Inventions of 2021<\/em><\/a>Trader Joe\u2019s Is Working on Vegan Seafood<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \n![\"VegNews.ShiokMeats2\"](\"https:\/\/vegnews.com\/media\/14729\/VegNews.ShiokMeats2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n