SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2024) — As National Lobster Day approaches on September 25, In Defense of Animals is taking a bold stand to promote compassion for lobsters rather than eating them. Since 2014, National Lobster Day has been used to boost the industry by marketing lobster consumption, disregarding the immense suffering endured by these intelligent, sentient animals. In Defense of Animals is reclaiming National Lobster Day to highlight these special animals, promote compassion, and urge the public to choose cruelty-free, plant-based alternatives.

“We’re hijacking National Lobster Day to celebrate and protect these amazing animals,” said Katie Nolan, Wild Animals Campaigner for In Defense of Animals. “Lobsters can live for over 100 years and travel vast distances to find a mate, but what truly sets them apart is their inability to shut-off pain. Every moment spent on ice or boiled alive is excruciating. For National Lobster Day, we’re urging supermarkets to stop selling live lobsters, and inviting lobster lovers to join our delectable mock-lobster master class."

In Defense of Animals is inviting the public to join a free, virtual, mock lobster cooking demonstration led by Chef Liz Gary, an expert in plant-based culinary arts. Chef Gary will guide attendees in preparing a delicious mock lobster dish, showcasing how plant-based eating can satisfy cravings and spare animals from suffering.

“With my upcoming recipe book Black Belt in TOFU: Today’s Plant-Based, Protein-Rich Alternative to Meat, Seafood, Eggs, & Dairy, you can enjoy the flavors you love, all plant-based, and feel good about it!” said Liz Gary, Plant-Based Foods Educator and Founder of Vegan Culinary Memoirs.

“Liz Gary's cooking demonstration powerfully shows that we don’t have to compromise on flavor to practice compassion,” said Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director for In Defense of Animals. “We’re reclaiming National Lobster Day as a time to celebrate lobsters as sentient beings, not food.”

As more consumers begin to explore plant-based diets, In Defense of Animals encourages people to join the movement and celebrate National Lobster Day by advocating for the protection of lobsters and embracing cruelty-free alternatives. By raising awareness and offering practical, tasty solutions, the organization hopes to shift the narrative surrounding lobsters and inspire positive change for these misunderstood animals.

In Defense of Animals is calling on major grocery store chains like ShopRite, Hannaford, Wegmans, Kroger, Big Y, Shaws, Price Chopper, Market Basket, and Stop & Shop to stop the inhumane practice of selling live lobsters. These sentient beings are confined in crowded, barren tanks, often without food for weeks or months, awaiting a horrific death. Whole Foods Market and other stores have already ended live lobster sales, and In Defense of Animals is urging others to follow suit. In just three days, 4,200 concerned citizens have demanded action. Join the growing movement to stop live lobster sales and demand change from major grocery chains by adding your voice.

Register for the virtual mock lobster cooking demo and celebrate National Lobster Day.

Download our lobster brochure.

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10 Fascinating Facts About Lobsters:

1. Lobsters Can Live up to 100 years

While their lifespan in the wild is often cut short by predators or human activity, some lobsters can live for several decades, with estimates suggesting they could reach 100 years old under the right conditions.

2. Lobsters Are Mostly Right-Clawed or Left-Clawed

Lobsters can develop a dominant claw, either their "crusher" claw for breaking shells or their "pincher" claw for more delicate tasks.

3. Lobsters Have No Pain Shut-off Mechanism

Unlike humans and some other animals, lobsters do not produce endorphins or similar chemicals to reduce pain, meaning they likely experience prolonged suffering when exposed to harmful stimuli, such as boiling water.

4. Lobsters Continue Growing Throughout Their Lives

Lobsters don’t stop growing with age. They molt their exoskeletons and continue to grow, becoming larger and stronger as they age.

5. Lobsters Taste with Their Legs

Lobsters have tiny sensory hairs on their legs and feet that allow them to detect chemicals in their environment, helping them "taste" their surroundings.

6. Lobsters Can Regenerate Limbs

Lobsters have the remarkable ability to regenerate lost claws, legs, and antennae, which helps them survive in the wild despite injuries.

7. Lobsters Have Poor Vision but Strong Smell

Lobsters rely more on their sense of smell and taste than on their vision, which is poor and mostly used to detect light and dark.

8. Lobsters Communicate with Urine

Lobsters use specialized glands located near their eyes to release urine as a way to communicate, especially in mating and territorial disputes.

9. Lobsters Can Travel Long Distances

Although they are usually associated with one location, lobsters have been known to travel over 100 miles in search of food or a mate.

10. Lobsters Display Intelligence & Can Learn

Lobsters exhibit problem-solving skills, long-term memory, and the ability to learn and adapt to their environment. They can navigate complex surroundings, remember past conflicts, and modify their behaviors based on experience, showcasing a higher level of intelligence than often assumed.

Contact: Katie Nolan, katie@idausa.org, (203) 823-8228

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and an over 41-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, rural Mississippi and central California. www.idausa.org

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