You are my Lobster, 2023
Triptychon
Acryl und Kreide auf Papier
jeweils 70 x 50 cm
Zeichnung und Aquarell auf Papier
jeweils 18 x 25 cm
„Boiling is a common slaughter method for decapods, but it appears to cause physiological shock and behavioural signs of aversion. For example, lobsters struggle violently for about two minutes after being placed in boiling water. Lobsters and crabs thrash and try to escape, and shed their limbs, which may be signs of stress or pain. The main problem with boiling lobsters or crabs is the time taken for apparent death of the animal. Roth and Øines measured the internal temperature of edible crabs and suggested that they can sense the heat for at least 2.5 min and prechilling could extend that time. Furthermore, chilled crabs regained their senses when placed in hot water.
Global use of decapod crustaceans (such as lobsters, prawns, crayfish and crabs) for human consumption is growing. Many billions of individuals are either wild caught or produced in aquaculture systems each year. Historically, there has been little concern for the welfare of these animals because they were thought to have no ability to experience pain, and simply depended on nociceptive reflexes to escape from noxious stimuli. However, recent studies demonstrated that some responses of decapods cannot be explained as reflexes, and this opens the possibility that they feel pain and need to be protected.“
(F. Conte, E. Voslarova, V. Vecerek, R. W. Elwood, P. Coluccio, M. Pugliese, A. Passantino: Humane Slaughter of Edible Decapod Crustaceans)