Wildlife & Countryside Link ‘A long-running campaign to secure acknowledgement of the ability of octopuses, crabs, lobsters and similar animals to feel positive and negative feelings (known as sentience) reached its culmination in November. Link, along with a range of other animal welfare organisations, has been calling for the Animal Sentience Bill, introduced by the Government in May to recognise animal sentience in UK law, to cover cephalopods (including octopuses) and decapod crustaceans (including lobsters and crabs) as well as vertebrates.

Following the publication of an in-depth report from LSE setting out the strong scientific evidence of cephalopod and decapod crustacean sentience, the Government tabled an amendment to the Animal Sentience Bill on 19 November, recognising the sentience of octopuses, crabs, lobsters and similar animals. The updated bill is due to have its report stage in the Lords on 6 December; Link’s latest briefing can be read here.’