Palinurus elephas, commonly known as the spiny lobster, is a nocturnal marine species found in deep saltwater environments. This species is classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Often considered a culinary delicacy, these lobsters are frequently removed from their natural habitats and kept in unsuitable conditions, awaiting preparation with garlic butter.
During a court proceeding, the restaurant’s general manager testified that the lobster in question, caught by a local fisherman, was indeed a spiny lobster.
Equilibrium
For the restaurant, the spiny lobster was merely a dish on a tasting menu, but for the marine ecosystem, it represents a crucial and declining keystone species. Although also prevalent in the Mediterranean, the court learned that this particular lobster hailed from Lulworth and was released back into the ocean less than 10 miles from its original location. It is likely thriving in its natural environment, far from the restaurant’s lights and noise.
By returning the lobster to Weymouth harbour, I aimed to restore a fragment of ecological balance. Despite incorrect reports suggesting I threw the lobster “like a cricket ball,” the court acknowledged that I carefully placed it into the water.
Crisis
The restaurant owner adopted a more emotional angle, claiming the lobster’s “mate” died of loneliness, using this narrative as sensational clickbait against a climate activist. However, Palinurus elephas is naturally solitary and does not experience loneliness. In the high-vibration confines of a display tank, another lobster would cause territorial stress rather than companionship.
Moreover, if the lobster were truly an “educational pet,” it would not have been kept in a bare, shallow tank under constant light and noise. Lobsters are sentient, meaning they experience pain and distress, a fact recognized by UK law. While media focused on vilifying a peaceful activist, the broader issue is the severe ecological crisis we face.
Bystander
Three major threats to our oceans should be headlines daily: wildlife loss, ocean acidification and warming, and the slowdown of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Collectively, these issues endanger global food security and societal stability, threatening our survival.
Nature is indifferent to power or media narratives, prioritizing balance instead. Currently, this balance is dangerously off, a reality that affects both restaurateurs and activists. I refuse to be a passive observer and stand by my peaceful and spontaneous action to safeguard a vulnerable animal.
This Author
Emma Smart is a marine biologist and climate activist. She is credited with discovering a new fish species, Garra smartae, in her early 30s.
