PETA responds after Noel Edmonds and wife buy live lobsters from shop and release them into sea

Animal rights organisation PETA has responded after TV legend Noel Edmonds and his wife released lobsters into the wild that they bought from tanks at a farmshop.

The 77-year-old and partner Liz videoed themselves putting the crustaceans in the water following a visit to Peel Harbour on the Isle of Man in a bid to free them.

PETA has now responded and said it 'salutes' the pair for 'wanting to spare animals from an agonising death' and praised their 'compassion' - despite the fact that they may still not survive in the wild.

The couple's heroic intentions, saving the lobsters 'from being boiled alive' were later shared in a video on Instagram.

In a post, Noel said he felt ‘uncomfortable’ seeing the lobsters sat in the water tank at The Farm Shop in Glen Helen and decided to set them free.

“All right, this is one of those more bizarre things that happens with us,” Noel, who presented Deal or No Deal for more than a decade, explained. “We were at a place where there were some lobsters in a tank, and we're a little bit uncomfortable about lobsters and tanks.

“So we bought the lobsters, and now Liz is going to release them. So here we go. Nice clear water in Peel Harbour. There they go! And we know this is nice fresh water because a moment ago a seal went past. Wonderful place.”

The veteran presenter then asked Liz: “Are you happy?” to which she replied: “Yes, I am!”

However concerns were raised about the likelihood of the lobsters surviving now in the wild. Experts actually advise against releasing supermarket or restaurant lobsters back into the ocean due to low survival rates.

And the Scottish Government says American lobsters sold through the seafood trade can carry Gaffkaemia, a bacterial disease that threatens native European lobsters.

According to UK law releasing animals back into the world after captivity is an offence. The Government website states: "Animals cannot be released back into the sea once captured – this is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981".

Commenting on Noel's post, one user said: "Lovely sentiment, but from a marine biologist perspective it's best not to release captive lobsters." Meanwhile, another penned: "They didn't have a chance the moment he removed them from tank."

PETA 'salutes' Noel and Liz

Responding, PETA UK's Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen 'saluted' the pair for 'wanting to spare animals from an agonising death'. Although they may not survive in the wild, she said it meant the crustaceans avoided being boiled and meeting a worse fate.

She told LADbible: "Such compassion is all too rare in today’s world, especially for the smallest or least understood forms of life.

"While the lobsters may not survive, at least they won’t be boiled alive. Lobsters are highly intelligent, sensitive animals who can feel pain and distress, and long to be free. PETA hopes Noel’s action will persuade the shop to remove the lobster tank for good. Of course, the best kind of lobster liberation doesn't require buying them first – it starts by leaving these clever crustaceans, and all other marine animals, off our plates and in the sea where they belong."

Following the incident, Matt Harrison, owner of The Farm Shop in Glen Helen, said he was considering getting rid of the tank completely, telling Manx Radio that Edmonds had told him they were planning to release the lobster, and that he then advised them on the safest way to do it.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's a nice thing to do. No problem at all," he said. He went on to slam backlash against Edmonds as 'incorrect, unfactual and unnecessary', and added that the lobsters had actually been caught locally just off Peel Harbour.