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PETA 'responds' after restaurant’s pet ‘lobster’ died when activist stole it and threw it into sea

Home> News> UK News

Published 14:37 28 Apr 2026 GMT+1

PETA 'responds' after restaurant’s pet ‘lobster’ died when activist stole it and threw it into sea

The animal rights organisation has supported 'lobster liberations' in the past

James Moorhouse

James Moorhouse

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Although many people love animals when they're kept as pets, people are less keen on being reminded about what they're actually eating when a burger lands on their plate.

Activist groups are often taking drastic action to get their point across, with Just Stop Oil making a name for themselves in the UK after throwing soup on a Van Gogh or even tying themselves to goal posts at the football.

While they've since ended their protests and publicity stunts, there are plenty of other organisations and individuals who feel that big statements are the only way to get their point across.

That was certainly the opinion of animal activist Emma Smart, who found herself in legal trouble after stealing what she thought was a lobster from the Catch at the Old Fish Market seafood restaurant, only for the establishment owner to claim it was his pet Ronnie and that she'd inadvertently killed him after throwing him into the sea.

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She has since spoken out about the matter, saying she 'liberated that single miserable lobster' as a 'small, spontaneous act of kindness' during a time when she was at a 'dark low point' while 'navigating a mental health crisis'.

However, many disputed her claims after Ronnie, who was actually a pet crayfish and his mate, both died as a result of her actions, even if her heart was in the right place.

You can watch CCTV footage of Emma's heist below:

Some might have associated the activist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organisation in the world.

And now the charity has spoken out in a new video which seems to be indirectly addressing the viral story, as they also responded to previous claims about liberating lobsters across the United States.

Although they denied rumours that they had released lobsters into freshwater in Nebraska, since that's around 20 hours drive from their headquarters in Virginia, they did suggest that they have supported 'lobster liberations' in the past.

The video states: "People love to hate us because we expose uncomfortable truths about animal abuse that they are still unwilling to confront.

"The truth is that PETA has gone undercover to expose lobster abusers and has helped rescue lobsters off menus, but the rest of the story is just a sea of lies.

"While no animal belongs in a tank, and PETA has supported lobster liberations, we make sure they end up in their rightful home."

It isn't the first time that Smart has found herself in legal trouble either, as she also previously confronted Sir David Attenborough at a restaurant, despite the 99-year-old being far more vocal than most about the perils of the animal planet.

The ecologist called it a 'tiny necessary win' against the system (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
The ecologist called it a 'tiny necessary win' against the system (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At around 9pm on Thursday 10 April 2025, it was reported that a woman entered Catch at The Old Fish Market in Custom House Quay in Weymouth when the business was closed to the general public.

"A member of staff asked the woman to leave, but it was reported that she pushed them and took a lobster out of a water tank before leaving and throwing it into the harbour nearby. We will investigate all reported incidents and a proportionate investigation was carried out into what happened.

"On Monday 21 April 2025, a 48-year-old woman from Weymouth was arrested in connection with the incident. Following consultation with the CPS, she was subsequently charged on Tuesday 27 May 2025 and appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 25 June 2025."

Smart later pleaded guilty to criminal damage and has been banned from being within 10 metres of the Weymouth restaurant.

LADbible has contacted PETA for further comment.


Featured Image Credit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse

James is a NCTJ Gold Standard journalist covering a wide range of topics and news stories for LADbible. After two years in football writing, James switched to covering news with Newsquest in Cumbria, before joining the LAD team in 2025. In his spare time, James is a long-suffering Rochdale fan and loves reading, running and music. Contact him via [email protected]

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@JimmyMoorhouse

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