People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has taken legal action against the Lobster Festival in Maine, labeling the steaming of lobsters as “terribly cruel.” On July 24, they filed a lawsuit against both the Main Lobster Festival and the City of Rockland, urging the court to stop the practice and declare the event “a public nuisance.”
PETA’s legal filing suggests that the way thousands of live lobsters are steamed violates Maine’s laws against animal torture. They want a permanent injunction to prohibit this practice on public land.
The organization points out that around 16,000 live lobsters are allegedly subjected to brutal treatment each year during these festivals, suggesting that members of the community should be able to enjoy the area without witnessing such extreme suffering.
Asher Smith, the litigation director for PETA, expressed concern that this event represents an “atrocity endorsed in the city.” He emphasized that PETA aims to end these displays and allow residents of Rockland to freely enjoy Harbor Park.
In response, the Main Lobster Festival and the Rockland Festival Corporation have denied the claims made by PETA. They stated that the cooking methods utilized at their events are in line with traditional practices that have been used for generations in homes and restaurants globally. They also noted that there is no clear scientific agreement indicating that lobsters feel pain similarly to mammals, given their different biological makeup.
