The Lobster Liberation Front (LLF) is an
animal rights campaign which first appeared on the coast of
Dorset, England in 2004, later spreading to
Wales["Lobster pot sabotage inquiry"]
''BBC News'', 24 June 2004. and
Scotland.
["Lobster liberation claims probed"]
''BBC News'', 30 March 2006. Their methods include releasing
lobster
Lobsters are a family (biology), family (Nephropidae, Synonym (taxonomy), synonym Homaridae) of marine crustaceans. They have long bodies with muscular tails and live in crevices or burrows on the sea floor. Three of their five pairs of legs ...
s in live storage and
sabotaging
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identitie ...
lobster pots or
fishing boats.
The LLF consider boiling lobsters alive (the traditional method for cooking them) unacceptable and use direct action to prevent it. Their claim that lobsters, which possess a rudimentary
nervous system, can feel pain, is the subject of ongoing scientific debate.
["Scientists say lobsters feel no pain"]
''Guardian Unlimited'', February 8, 2005.[Sample, Ian]
"Blow for fans of boiled lobster: crustaceans feel pain, study says"
''The Guardian'', November 8, 2007.
Direct action
2004
In March, the village of
Worth Matravers,
Dorset was targeted when the individuals twice wrecked a fisherman's boat and set lobsters free. The actions were reported to the Southern Animal Rights Coalition, sent anonymously by the LLF.
["Activists' 'war' to save lobsters"]
''BBC News'', July 30, 2004. Shortly following this action, £1,000 worth of damage was made in June when it was presumed activists targeted a fisherman's potts in
Cardigan and in
Crymych,
Wales.
[
]
2006
A large number of lobster fishermen's pots were damaged in Stranraer
Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of L ...
, Scotland, with graffiti left at the scene indicating the group had carried out the attacks.[
]
References
{{reflist
External links
"Post by the LLF" on SARC's website
Animal rights organizations
Animal welfare organisations based in the United Kingdom
Lobster fishing
2004 establishments in England