The treatment of lobsters and whether or not it is okay to prepare them as food is a very controversial topic that is continually brought up in our society. Lobsters are one of the most majestic and interesting creatures our waters have to offer. These poor animals are victims of widespread cruelty due to overexploitation and the very inhumane preparation methods used to cook these lobsters. The effects of these bad behaviors spark much debate around the world, which extends to countless individuals. The general cruelty shown towards lobsters is damaging both the lobster population and the reputation of the company and these acts of brutality must stop. Although fishing and preparing lobster is increasingly looked down upon by many, there are still some benefits of lobster fishing. the existing lobster industry. The practice of catching lobster and selling it in open markets is one of the oldest traditions that exist in the coastal towns of the New England region and the local people take great pride in this animal. The Maine Lobster Festival, held annually in late July, is a good tourist attraction and a staple of the Midcoast region (Wallace 156). The lobster industry also generates countless revenues for these coastal economies by marketing the product itself, hosting festivals, and even selling various types of lobster merchandise. There is good reason to believe that these towns would face great difficulty if the lobster industry disappeared completely. In addition to the cultural and economic arguments in favor of lobster farming, arguments can be made that the method of preparing lobster is not at all inhumane due to its overall anatomical shape...... middle of the document...... debated The question of whether or not it is morally acceptable for lobsters to be caught in the wild and then prepared as food is a recurring topic that has sparked much debate and will most likely continue to do it. Lobster is increasingly overexploited, leading to a decline in its numbers. Boiling these lobsters and other preparation methods are very disturbing and are considered extremely cruel. Lobster fishing is increasingly harmful to both lobster populations and the image of humanity as a whole and should no longer continue in our society. Works Cited Foster, Wallace. “Consider the lobster.” Mercury Reader. Compiled by Marisa Carlson. Ed. Jancie Neuleib, Kathleen Shine Cain and Stephen Ruffus. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 159-177. Print “The Luckiest Lobster.” Radiolab. WNYC Radio, July 12, 2010. web. April 27 2014