Don't Eat Crabs, Go Vegan Urges PETA Billboard In Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD — It's practically blasphemy in Maryland: Give up eating crabs and other tasty seafood, and instead view them as individuals as you switch to a vegan diet. No Old Bay seasoned fresh catches, no crab meat dunked in vinegar. What's the use of living in Maryland without it all?

A new PETA billboard near Inner Harbor seafood restaurants is trying to persuade Baltimore diners to leave crabs and other sea creatures in the water. The giant billboard shows a colorful crab with the phrase, "I'm ME, Not MEAT. See the Individual. Go Vegan." Its location near several seafood restaurants — including Phillips Seafood, Mo's Fisherman's Wharf, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. — is sure to turn heads.

The ad is located outside the Shot Tower–Market Place Metro station directly above the Silver Moon II restaurant at 801 E. Baltimore St. and will be up for a month. According to a news release from PETA, the billboard will be in place for the Baltimore Seafood Festival on Sept. 15.

"Just like humans, crabs feel pain and fear, have unique personalities, and value their own lives," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA's billboard aims to give Charm City residents some food for thought about sparing sensitive marine animals the agony of being boiled alive or crushed to death in fishing nets simply by going vegan."

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SEE ALSO:

• Baltimore Restaurant Has One Of Best Vegan Seafood Dishes In U.S.
  
• Best Crabcakes In Maryland: Here's What You Said

PETA investigators contend live lobsters and crabs were impaled, torn apart, and decapitated as their legs continued to move when processed at a slaughterhouse. Chefs typically place live crabs and lobsters into pots of boiling water while they're still conscious, a practice that has just been banned in Switzerland.

PETA offers a free vegan starter kit of recipes, tips, and more on its website. For more information, visit PETA.org.

What do you think of the billboard? Tell us in comments.

Photo courtesy of PETA