I recently wrote a blog about the different definitions of animal in UK law, including which animals are, and aren’t, protected under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. One of my main points in this blog was around the exclusion of decapods, despite evidence of their sentience, and many calls over recent years to amend this. 

Since this blog was published, we’ve seen some progress made around the use of decapods in scientific research, and here is a summary of everything you need to know! 

What are decapods?

Decapods, named for their ’10 limbs’, are a type of crustacean. This includes species such as crabs, lobsters, prawns, and shrimp, to name a few. In the UK, they are predominantly used for seafood, but some species are also used in scientific research.  

The current law

Scientific research in the UK is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which outlines which animals are ‘protected’ in regulated procedures. Protected animals are currently defined as any living vertebrate other than man (such as mammals, birds, fish), and as of 2013, any living cephalopod (such as octopuses).

No decapods are currently included in the definition, meaning that they are afforded no protection when used in research.  

In 2021, the London School of Economics published a report concluding that there is ‘strong scientific evidence’ that decapods can feel pain, distress and harm. Because of this, the Government stated that decapods would be recognised as sentient beings under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, which was passed in 2022. However, this had, and still has, no effect on existing legislation, meaning that despite evidence of sentience, decapods are still not protected in scientific research. 

What is the Home Office doing?

At the start of April 2026, the Home Office published a letter outlining a new proposed approach to the regulation of decapods in scientific procedures. This is in response to recognition of their sentience and pressure from many animal protection organisations to close the legal gap and protect decapods. The letter stated that the Home Office will take ‘a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements’ for decapod use in science, including the development of a roadmap. 

Initial steps in the roadmap will include: 

• The adoption of baseline, industry-led welfare standards for using decapods in science 

• Voluntary reporting on the use of decapods by establishments and targeted training 

Subsequent steps will involve:

• Addressing any remaining gaps in guidance 

• Reviewing the potential for a commission on targeted technical advice  

Following these steps, consideration may be given to whether decapods should be included as a protected animal under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. 

What next?

Firstly, this is good news! It’s great progress and a long-awaited step in the protection of decapods in science. We, and other organisations, have been calling for decapods to be protected for a long time, particularly since the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act came into force. 

But there is also still a long way to go. Whilst the Home Office has outlined the steps that will be taken regarding the use of decapods in science, their inclusion as a protected animal under ASPA is not a guarantee. At this stage, it is a future consideration that may be taken. We will continue to call for this potential to be turned into a definite, and for decapods to be afforded full protection under the law as soon as possible. Not only will this improve their welfare, but it will also ensure that they are no longer considered a ‘replacement’ to animals which are currently protected, as outlined in our policy approach.