seafood – Animal Law Developments

by John M. Simpson.

We have reported previously (here and here) on an ongoing back and forth between animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, a seafood restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland. PETA started it with a billboard advertisement in which a Maryland crab proclaimed “I’m ME, not MEAT. See the individual. Go Vegan.” Jimmy’s responded with its own billboard asserting: “SteaMEed crabs. Here to stay. Get Famous.” Jimmy’s also trolled PETA on Twitter with humorous effect with hashtags like “#SteamThemAll.” This tactic reportedly had the effect of boosting Jimmy’s sales. Continue reading “Baltimore Seafood Restaurant Continues to Needle PETA”

By John M. Simpson.

Last fall, we reported on a situation in Baltimore, Maryland, in which a local, family-owned seafood restaurant decided to resist a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against steamed crabs. PETA purchased a billboard advertisement in which a Maryland crab proclaimed “I’m ME, not MEAT. See the individual. Go Vegan.” PETA believes that crabs feel pain and that the method of boiling them alive is inhumane. Since crabs are invertebrates, whether they feel pain or just demonstrate a reflex action is debatable. The science is not conclusive on this point.

Seeing PETA’s move as an assault on the entire Maryland crab industry, a local establishment which has sold steamed crabs for decades decided enough was enough, stood up and took the animal rights group on. Continue reading “PETA’s Attack on Seafood Restaurant Backfires”