Activist Emma defends ‘crustacean jailbreak’ after throwing Weymouth restaurant’s pet crayfish into the ocean | EUROtoday

An activist who was prosecuted for taking a reside crayfish from a seafood restaurant and throwing it into the ocean has spoken out in regards to the case for the primary time.

Emma Smart, 47, says she has no regrets about her actions – despite the fact that taking the crayfish from its heat tank and hurling it into the harbour would have killed it.

She stated it was an “act of kindness” and described the courtroom proceedings as a “witch hunt”.

Smart additionally claimed that she was “stripped naked” and searched on the police station, earlier than being held in custody for 12 hours.

Smart, a marine biologist with an extended historical past of activism, pleaded responsible to legal harm at Bournemouth Crown Court earlier this month.

CCTV footage confirmed her ready outdoors The Catch at The Old Fish Market in Weymouth, Dorset on the evening of 10 April 2025, earlier than heading inside and going to a tank, the place two pet crayfish named Ronnie and Reggie had been stored.

She picked one among them up whereas heading off a member of workers, earlier than throwing the crayfish into Weymouth harbour.

Following the prosecution, Smart was banned from the restaurant.

She stated the case towards her was “ridiculous” and “trumped up”.

She wrote on social media: “They call it ‘criminal damage.’ I call it a crustacean jailbreak.

“This actually felt good at the time. A small, spontaneous, act of kindness – a tiny necessary win against a system that is literally driving our oceans, our planet (and ultimately humanity) to collapse in the midst of climate breakdown and a biodiversity crisis.”

Smart stated she was “navigating a mental health crisis” and “at a dark low point” on the evening that she “liberated” the crayfish.

What adopted was a “bizarre witch hunt”, she wrote.

“I had my flat raided by 4 Dorset Police officers in 3 vehicles, a search warrant, arrest warrant, stripped naked and searched, held for 12 hours in custody, 5 ridiculous ‘trumped-up from above’ charges and a year of a ridiculous legal process.”

The Catch is a world-leading eatery for sustainable fish and seafood sourcing.

Owner Sean Cooper has referred to as Smart “ignorant” and stated her marketing campaign towards Catch was “as misguided as it is damaging”.

He stated: “What’s particularly frustrating is that Emma Smart is directing her anger at entirely the wrong target. Weymouth’s fishing fleet is recognised globally for the way it operates.

“Catch, working alongside Weyfish, has been identified by the Sustainable Restaurant Association as the world-leading restaurant for sustainable fish and seafood sourcing.”