In June, we celebrated a brand-new holiday: Crustacean Compassion Day! We served up delicious mock lobster rolls, rocked a tropical theme, played crustacean-themed games, and danced our claws off in honor of our decapod friends. It was a joyous day of education, fun, and compassion.

Did you know that lobsters never stop growing and can be right- or left-clawed? Or that some shrimp make an underwater snapping sound so loud they’re among the loudest animals in the ocean? And did you know most crabs walk or swim sideways? These animals are fascinating, complex, and deeply underappreciated.

Tragically, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and other decapod (ten-legged) crustaceans suffer immensely when they are killed for human consumption. Lobsters, for example, are taken from their wild homes and confined in grocery store tanks where they are not fed. Their claws are painfully banded, causing their muscles to atrophy.

They are eventually purchased and boiled alive, a process that they feel the entirety of because they do not have the ability to go into shock. By choosing to leave these animals off your plate, you remove yourself from this cycle of suffering and instead honor these beings with compassion and kindness. 

So the next time you see a lobster, choose compassion and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Learn more about these fascinating animals and the ways we can protect them. The more we understand and share, the more we can shift attitudes toward respect for crustaceans.

Want to throw your own mock lobster dinner party? 

Here are some simple tips: 

• Try out some tasty mock lobster recipes with chef Liz Gary. You can watch the cooking demo to follow along as well!
• Dress up! Make your party under the sea themed.
• Create a rockin’ playlist.
• Create some fun and educational games featuring crustaceans. You can play “Name That Crustacean” or a crustacean trivia game!
• Don't forget your Compassion for Lobsters pamphlets from In Defense of Animals! You can order yours here.
• Put out a donation jar or QR code: Fundraise for an animal advocacy group or ocean protection organization that you care about! You can link to In Defense of Animals’ donation page.