Humane ways to kill crustaceans

Crustaceans were added to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 1997 after it was medically proven they feel pain.

RSPCA Australia says crustaceans should be killed in two stages: stunning and mechanical killing.

Stunning is believed to numb the animal so it doesn't feel pain, while mechanical killing dispatches it as quickly as possible.

STUNNING

* Electrical stunning in a specialised water bath (all species)

* Chilling in an ice slurry (tropical crustaceans)

* Chilling in a freezer (large crustaceans adapted to very cold conditions)

MECHANICAL KILLING

* Splitting - using a sharp knife to cut lengthways through the head, abdomen and thorax (lobsters and similar)

* Spiking - using an awl or sharp-pointed knife to punch through the rear and then front nerve centres (crabs).