This petition calls on major grocery chains including Sobeys Inc and those within its management (Thrifty Foods and Price Chopper) to end the use of live lobster tanks in stores across Canada. 

Studies show that lobsters have more complex emotions/behaviours and awareness than first thought. The fact that they are solitary creatures and forced into tanks with dozens of other lobsters is stressful and unethical.

These tanks have been around since my childhood, and thus have been normalized, but, when you think about it - a) we take these solitary creatures out of their natural environment, b) transport them for long periods of time, and c) store them in crowded tanks in stores for ‘a month or longer’ to then be boiled alive (staff are not allowed to ‘kill’ them before boiling them, and despite popular belief, they do not die immediately.)

I understand that eliminating live lobster tanks is not a small undertaking but, it is possible! John Mackey, the reputable CEO of Whole Foods, a 16-billion dollar grocery store, immediately ceased selling live lobsters in-store, after a 7-month internal investigation, given that their findings did not satisfy their requirements for the ethical treatment of these crustaceans. They now will only sell frozen raw and cooked products from suppliers with strict guidelines for the humane treatment of lobster. At this time, their main supplier is Clearwater seafood out of Nova Scotia! 

To be clear, the goal here is not to eliminate jobs or to reduce lobster fishing, as I know many families rely on this source of income, simply to fine tune the process to effectively reduce unnecessary animal suffering.  We are the dominant species, we have a responsibility to all other creatures, including lobsters!

I have begun conversations with Sobeys’ sustainable team and, in an effort to show public support in this endeavour, I am asking that you: 

1) Please sign and forward this petition to as many people as you can or 2) Contact your local grocery store manager 3) email jacquelin.corrado@sobeys.com to respectfully convey your request and/or 4) Express your concerns on site when shopping.

Thank you for your support!