My 11-year old son and I witnessed a heartbreaking scene while waiting for a bus outside a fishmonger's shop. We observed a lobster moving around in a tank, lifting itself as though reaching out to my child's hand. It struck us as a plea for assistance, for rights to a dignified life, and to freedom from pain. It broke my son, he was moved to tears - a moving testament to the feelings these sentient creatures evoke in us. We spoke about how they are still cooked in some places and this really upset my son. He couldn't understand how this could be done to another living thing.

Lobsters and other crustaceans have been scientifically proven to be sentient beings, able to experience pain and distress. Despite this knowledge, many restaurants and supermarkets in the UK continue to indulge in the barbaric practice of boiling these creatures alive. Decapod crustaceans such as lobsters have complex nervous systems, their pain responses similar to those found in humans (Elwood, 2013). Therefore, it's high time to respect their right to life free from cruelty.

The British government has not yet passed laws to protect lobsters and other crustaceans from such brutal treatment, despite numerous nations, such as Switzerland and New Zealand, having already banned this cruel cooking method. It's evident that the UK's animal welfare legislation must evolve to recognise that these sea-dwelling beings have the capacity to suffer.

We ask lawmakers to enact legislation banning the boiling of live lobsters, marking a step towards more compassionate food preparation methods. Please sign this petition, so we can show our children that their voices matter, that their empathy has the power to bring about change - to ensure that no child, lobster, or other sentient creature has to undergo such heartbreak in the future.