Common human painkillers successfully block pain responses in Norway lobsters, according to new research published in the journal Scientific Reports. The findings provide fresh evidence that crustaceans may possess a capacity for pain, a discovery that could reshape welfare standards in the fishing and laboratory sectors.
Lynne Sneddon, a professor of zoophysiology at the University of Gothenburg, led the study to determine if human-grade medication could mitigate stress responses in the species. The research team exposed the lobsters to electric shocks, which are known to be painful to humans, and observed their physical reactions.
When subjected to the shocks, the lobsters attempted to escape by rapidly flipping their tails. However, this defensive behavior decreased significantly or disappeared entirely when the animals were treated with aspirin or lidocaine beforehand.
“The fact that painkillers developed for humans also work on Norway lobsters shows how similar we function,” Sneddon said. “That's why it's important to care about how we treat and kill crustaceans, just as we do with chickens and cows.”
Rethinking industry standards
The research arrives as global interest in crustacean welfare intensifies. Countries including Norway, New Zealand, and Austria have already banned the practice of boiling live crustaceans. The United Kingdom is currently weighing similar legislative proposals.
The fishing industry has sought alternatives, such as using electric currents to stun animals before processing. However, Sneddon warned that poorly calibrated electrical systems could cause unnecessary suffering. Her team’s results indicate that improper shocking triggers the same stress responses as physical injury.
During the trial, the researchers noted that aspirin injections, while effective at reducing tail-flipping, led to increased grooming of legs and claws—a sign of stress in the animals. Lidocaine, when dissolved in water, proved more effective with fewer visible side effects.
Sneddon emphasized that these results should inform how the scientific community approaches animal testing. She advocates for integrating pain management into laboratory protocols to ensure more humane treatment.
“Our results emphasise the importance of ethical responsibility for the welfare of crustaceans not only in the food industry,” Sneddon said. “We need to do further experiments to find out the most humane way to treat and kill crustaceans if we still want them as food in the future.”
