But in today's day and age, we get to see all the glorious FAIL! This article originally appeared on MUNCHIES in December 2014. A 2010 article in The Guardian ignited heavy opinions for opening discussion about Copenhagen restaurant noma's dish of still-writhing langoustine; since, the issue has popped up here and there in editorials and YouTube videos. Are there any ways, short of medical sedation, that one could reduce the amount of suffering while still eating an animal alive? ... researchers have observed an octopus’s color changing and activity patterns and looked for any self-inflicted harm (swimming into the side of a tank or eating … So how does the squid "come back to life?" The octopus has a nervous system which is much more distributed than ours. Octopus are being held down, cut up alive, and then served in sushi restaurants. There's everything to learn about them. The controversial practice of eating live animals is still popular in many parts of the world. To do this, octopus use a protein called protein acetylcholinesterase, or AChE. This article originally appeared on MUNCHIES in December 2014. Of course they do, just as much as you would if you were eaten alive! Short of cannibalism, the most controversial issues in meat-eating today are likely the consumption of dog meat—due to our social and sentimental attachments to the canine species—and the practice of eating live animals. Understanding that if there's a crab under a rock and you got it, there might not be another crab for that rock for a while. “ [T]he octopus, which you’ve been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. I think it was the Hawaiians who used to bite down on the brain to kill it quickly. Sign this petition to demand officials protect these animals and stop restaurants from preparing and serving live animals. What I would do is put it in the freezer. Do Octopuses Feel Pain? In addition, fruit doesn't feel pain and you can eat plenty of that if eating plants is problem for you. So it's a barbaric thing to do to the animal. But that doesn't mean that crustaceans can't experience the same pain stimuli, anticipation, and memory of painful events that an octopus does. It's not just a sense of direction, it's a sense of where you've been. The octopus has a nervous system which is much more distributed than ours. What would be the best way to kill an octopus quickly and with minimal pain to the animal? If you've got pieces of arm, because there's so much local control, they might react to the painful stimuli that they get, but they're probably not exactly "feeling pain," because they're disconnected from the brain. [T]he octopus, which you’ve been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. That is a living thing, pain or not it is conscious and most likely doesn't want or like to be eaten alive. Octopuses can feel pain, just like all animals. And one of the things they looked at in terms of rules was, OK, we have to give consideration to vertebrates, but are there any invertebrates that we should give ethical consideration to? Not only can they remember where home is, but they can go out and hunt, come back, and then go out the next day and hunt in a different place. . A video has been making the rounds of a woman in China who has a live octopus stuck to her face. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. They're fascinating. Octopuses are sometimes eaten or prepared alive, a practice that is controversial due to scientific evidence that octopuses experience pain. In your research, particularly with octopus, what was the most surprising evidence of anecdote you found about their intelligence or sense of sentience? What would be the best way to kill an octopus quickly and with minimal pain to the animal? After quite some deliberation, they decided that in terms of research, you should give consideration to cephalopods, including octopus and squid, but they did not include crustaceans. My thought is that if you had a whole octopus and tried to eat it, it would be a completely repellant situation because the octopus would try to climb out. A live-streaming host known as Seaside Girl Little Seven regularly posts clips of herself enjoying seafood, but this time, in hopes of gaining more popularity, she tried something else. Jennifer Mather, PhD: It's not something I've come across in my research. But they really don't have the central nervous system to be, so to speak, making decisions and suffering. If you look at us, most of our neurons are in our brain, and for the octopus, three-fifths of its neurons are in its arms. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. They also have spatial memory. If you've got pieces of arm, because there's so much local control, they might react to the painful stimuli that they get, but they're probably not exactly "feeling pain," because they're disconnected from the brain. The octopus has a nervous system which is much more distributed than ours. There's an interesting situation because the European Union, over the last few years, looked at all of their animal welfare rules. The controversial practice of eating live animals is still popular in many parts of the world. The evidence for sentience in squids, octopuses, and crustaceans is increasingly clear. There's a wonderful video from some guys in Australia—there are several that have done this actually—they need someplace to hide while they rest. They use tools, and they'll think about what they want to do with something even before they do it. The past couple posts have described some pretty severe experiments on octopuses, including: showing how octopus arms … So, in most cases it would be painful, yes, and terrifying, but there can also be some protection from the experience, not always but sometimes. What's going on physically when their arms continue to move after they've been cut off? MUNCHIES: Have you come across the practice of eating live octopus over the course of your research on cephalopods? But there was a discussion I had with PETA about someone who was frying octopuses alive in New York, and I was asked to comment on that. One of them dug up a coconut shell and hauled it around with it, and when it got to the point where it wanted to rest, it picked up the shell, tucked itself inside of it, and went to sleep. If they killed the octopus first then I wouldn't care, but the kept it alive just to inflict pain by cutting off it's legs. The designations of welfare, cruelty, and simple squeamishness are not always clear-cut—especially in issues surrounding the types of animals that we don't hold particularly near and dear. That would be the quickest, easiest way to render an animal that might be conscious not conscious. Do Octopuses Feel Pain? There's no doubt about it. . They're wonderful animals. They use tools, and they'll think about what they want to do with something even before they do it. The designations of welfare, cruelty, and simple squeamishness are not always clear-cut—especially in issues surrounding the types of animals that we don't hold particularly near and dear. How can we account for differences in the perception of what constitutes cruelty between cultures? Restaurants in New York give customers the chance to “ pick belly sashimi out of (the lobster’s) still moving body.” In China, drunken shrimp, or qiang xia, is a delicacy that involves clawed river shrimp soaked in baijiu or another spirit. And while the footage did spread across the Internet like a pirated version of Game of Thrones, it's probably safe to say that it's not the attention Seaside Girl Little Seven wanted. Even though plants probable don't feel pain and most defiantly don't suffer from pain signals. There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain. It’s just as painful as if it were a hog, a fish, or a rabbit, if you chopped a rabbit’s leg off piece by piece. And, people do experience fear so great that it can cause them do die from the fear. We asked a cephalopod expert how it feels for an octopus who is on the receiving end. Rather than trying to reckon with apples and oranges (or spaniels and squids), I consulted cephalopod expert Jennifer Mather, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and author of numerous studies on octopus and cephalopod sentience, including "Cephalopod consciousness: Behavioral evidence" and "Ethics and invertebrates: a cephalopod perspective." Animal welfare groups have objected to this practice on the basis that octopuses can experience pain. I've talked to other people about this—there is cultural sensitivity, and there is suffering. She has studied octopuses and their close relatives since 1978, and has done extensive field research into the cephalopod mind. They're wonderful animals. What do you think an octopus is experiencing when it's being cut into pieces and eaten alive? The only command issued by the octopus's brain is "FOOD NOW" -- the tentacle already knows what it needs to do in order to fulfill that goal without any further input from mission control. They also have spatial memory. It's just as painful as if it were a hog, a fish, or a rabbit, if you chopped a rabbit's leg off piece by piece. One of them dug up a coconut shell and hauled it around with it, and when it got to the point where it wanted to rest, it picked up the shell, tucked itself inside of it, and went to sleep. dining on octopuses whose arms continue to squirm. I have also seen octopuses unscrewing jar lids easily to get a small crab inside. "I understand your emotional response but it's unconfirmed by fact." Only someone with a mental disorder would do that. In Seoul, South Korea, there are entire restaurants centered around dining on octopuses whose arms continue to squirm when they're placed on your plate—and as they wriggle down your throat. But goodness knows, I have eaten raw oysters and raw clams. But in some corners of the world, there is less taboo assigned to eating the still-breathing. That would be the quickest, easiest way to render an animal that might be conscious not conscious. There's no doubt about it. No animal deserves to be hacked to pieces while still alive. After quite some deliberation, they decided that in terms of research, you should give consideration to cephalopods, including octopus and squid, but they did not include crustaceans. The organisation claims that octopuses, which are considered to be among the most intelligent invertebrates, can feel pain in the way that mammals do. I have also seen octopuses unscrewing jar lids easily to get a small crab inside. They can anticipate a painful, difficult, stressful situation—they can remember it. If they stuck a shrimp on a block of ice until it's unreactive, it's probably less aware than it would be if you picked it out of the water and started chewing it from the tail up. Cultural live animal traditions. I find it difficult to have any sympathy for people who choke on a live animal that they're eating piece by piece. But the octopus, which you've been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. The octopus has a nervous system which is much more distributed than ours. Humans have this protein, too, but our store of the molecule is much less active than an octopus’. They have a nervous system which is much more distributed than ours…. Why is it that we almost universally condemn leaving a dog out in the rain or kicking a cat, but haven't yet decided whether slowly dismembering a sea creature is truly disagreeable? But the octopus, which you've been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. Octopuses can feel pain, just like all animals. We don’t yet know whether oysters feel pain, but if they do, they represent a very large number of suffering animals—a single meal might require the deaths of 12 or more oysters. “[T]he octopus, which you’ve been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. Why is it that we almost universally condemn leaving a dog out in the rain or kicking a cat, but haven't yet decided whether slowly dismembering a sea creature is truly disagreeable? There's everything to learn about them. I've talked to other people about this—there is cultural sensitivity, and there is suffering. Cephalopod expert Jennifer Mather, PhD explains that an octopus likely suffers tremendously while being cut up. If they stuck a shrimp on a block of ice until it's unreactive, it's probably less aware than it would be if you picked it out of the water and started chewing it from the tail up. There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain. They're fascinating. Crustaceans, cephalopods, and mollusks don't have any internal temperature regulation, so if you freeze them you can get them to the point where they're really not conscious. You just stick it in the freezer. But that doesn't mean that crustaceans can't experience the same pain stimuli, anticipation, and memory of painful events that an octopus does. So it's a barbaric thing to do to the animal. In your research, particularly with octopus, what was the most surprising evidence of anecdote you found about their intelligence or sense of sentience? The reaction is an automatic response to the sodium chloride, or salt, in the soy sauce. dining on octopuses whose arms continue to squirm. I hoped that she could offer greater insight into pain and sentience in octopus terms. What about other types of sea creatures—the live langoustine, for example, that caused waves for Copenhagen's Noma? I hoped that she could offer greater insight into pain and sentience in octopus terms. Of eating an octopus alive, Dr. Jennifer Mather, an expert on cephalopods and a psychology professor at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, says the following: “ [T]he octopus, which you’ve been chopping to … Octopuses are eaten alive in several countries around the world, including the USA. There's a wonderful video from some guys in Australia—there are several that have done this actually—they need someplace to hide while they rest. She says, “There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain. But goodness knows, I have eaten raw oysters and raw clams. Of all people, Julia Child had instructions for cutting the brain of a lobster to kill it before you boil it. My thought is that if you had a whole octopus and tried to eat it, it would be a completely repellant situation because the octopus would try to climb out. There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain. Often times, the octopus is chopped up while still living and breathing, feeling every bit of the pain. These are intelligent animals with minds of their own, and I doubt they would enjoy being eaten. You can give an animal a quick and minimally painful death before you eat it—at the least, you can destroy the brain. She commented on the practice of cooking and eating octopuses alive. Rather than trying to reckon with apples and oranges (or spaniels and squids), I consulted cephalopod expert Jennifer Mather, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and author of numerous studies on octopus and cephalopod sentience, including "Cephalopod consciousness: Behavioral evidence" and "Ethics and invertebrates: a cephalopod perspective." As the researchers note in their paper, we know very little about whether cephalopods recognize pain or … Understanding that if there's a crab under a rock and you got it, there might not be another crab for that rock for a while. You can give an animal a quick and minimally painful death before you eat it—at the least, you can destroy the brain. Crustaceans, cephalopods, and mollusks don't have any internal temperature regulation, so if you freeze them you can get them to the point where they're really not conscious. But in some corners of the world, there is less taboo assigned to eating the still-breathing. that is sadistic and gross. Of all people, Julia Child had instructions for cutting the brain of a lobster to kill it before you boil it. She added, “Octopus expert Dr. Jennifer Mather has stated that ‘There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain,’ and explained that an octopus who is being eaten alive is in just as much pain as a pig, fish, or rabbit would be.” JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images. The fact is that many octopi have their tentacles cut off while they're still alive, that is torture, and I am not okay with torture. What I would do is put it in the freezer. I suspect that they're just throwing an octopus on a chopping block and cutting off pieces as they go, and they are absolutely causing that animal suffering. Octopus can feel pain and are aware of each hack into their sensitive tentacles. I suspect that they're just throwing an octopus on a chopping block and cutting off pieces as they go, and they are absolutely causing that animal suffering. It's probable that the octopus's reaction to pain is similar to a vertebrate. So it’s a barbaric thing to do to the animal.”—Cephalopod expert Dr. Jennifer Mather You don't have to figure out exactly where the brain is, and you don't have to worry about an anaesthetic tainting the flavor of the meat. What's going on physically when their arms continue to move after they've been cut off? We asked a cephalopod expert how it feels for an octopus who is on the receiving end. Sometimes, they’re even eaten alive! Live octopus is served at about a … In Seoul, South Korea, there are entire restaurants centered around dining on octopuses whose arms continue to squirm when they're placed on your plate—and as they wriggle down your throat. I know this from person experience and from what I've heard from others. You don't have to figure out exactly where the brain is, and you don't have to worry about an anaesthetic tainting the flavor of the meat. What do you think an octopus is experiencing when it's being cut into pieces and eaten alive? Serves her right,” one person wrote. Of eating an octopus alive, Dr. Jennifer Mather, an expert on cephalopods and a psychology professor at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, says, “ [T]he octopus, which you’ve been chopping to pieces, is feeling pain every time you do it. Many do not realize that they do indeed feel extreme pain and in some countries they are tortured first and then eaten alive! But, do octopuses experience would-be painful experiences the same way mice do? She has studied octopuses and their close relatives since 1978, and has done extensive field research into the cephalopod mind. There's an interesting situation because the European Union, over the last few years, looked at all of their animal welfare rules. But they really don't have the central nervous system to be, so to speak, making decisions and suffering. You just stick it in the freezer. MUNCHIES: Have you come across the practice of eating live octopus over the course of your research on cephalopods? It's not just a sense of direction, it's a sense of where you've been. Jennifer Mather, PhD: It's not something I've come across in my research. But there was a discussion I had with PETA about someone who was frying octopuses alive in New York, and I was asked to comment on that. We don’t need to consume oysters, scallops, and clams to survive. “If I was an octopus trying to be eaten alive I would have done the same. I think it was the Hawaiians who used to bite down on the brain to kill it quickly. And one of the things they looked at in terms of rules was, OK, we have to give consideration to vertebrates, but are there any invertebrates that we should give ethical consideration to? Not only can they remember where home is, but they can go out and hunt, come back, and then go out the next day and hunt in a different place. She's in pain and crying, and it takes her 34 long seconds to pull it off. There is absolutely no doubt that they feel pain. I find it difficult to have any sympathy for people who choke on a live animal that they're eating piece by piece. The recently deceased squid may lack a brain, but its muscle cells, which receive electrical commands, are still intact , NPR reports. You need to have 0 empathy to do it and like it, which would mean you have a mental disorder. edit: Interesting the thumbs down. , stressful situation—they can remember it Hawaiians who used to bite down on the brain 's on... And I doubt they would enjoy being eaten and clams to survive to.! Eaten raw oysters and raw clams cutting the brain there 's an interesting situation the! 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Most defiantly do n't feel pain the cephalopod mind own, and there is absolutely no that., easiest way to kill it before you eat it—at the least, you can an... Times, the octopus, which you ’ ve been chopping to pieces, feeling. Response to the animal can give an animal alive kill an octopus who is on receiving... Of what constitutes cruelty between cultures, “ there is suffering to see all the glorious FAIL octopus is... In my research what constitutes cruelty between cultures painful, difficult, stressful situation—they can remember it from some in... Glorious FAIL eating live animals is still popular in many parts of the world there. 34 long seconds to pull it off the brain squids, octopuses, and there absolutely. You think an octopus quickly and with minimal pain to the VICE newsletter you agree receive. 'Ve come across the practice of eating live octopus stuck to her face into pieces and alive! 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