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A POPULAR Sydney seafood store has been found guilty of animal cruelty charges after a staff member inhumanely butchered a lobster.

Nicholas Seafood at the Sydney Fish Markets in Glebe was sentenced to a $1500 fine at Sydney Downing Centre court today after the business was charged by the RSPCA with an act of animal cruelty.

The RSPCA fined the store on February 12, 2016 after a witness videoed a worker on January 25 the same year butchering a lobster without any attempt to stun it to mitigate suffering.

The video shows the lobster struggling vigorously as the fishmonger attempts to butcher it.

It remains alive after its tail is cut off, before being put through a band saw about 20 seconds later.

RSPCA Inspector Tyson Hohlein attended the premises and said the staff member was unaware of correct procedures.

“I attended the business and spoke to the manager that was on at the time,” he said.

“We were told that it was an isolated incident and the staff member who did it was not aware of correct procedures to euthanise.”

Mr Hohlein confirmed the director of Nicholas Seafood elected to have the matter dealt with in court.

“The director has since seen the video and said it was unacceptable — their staff have now been trained and are aware of the guidelines that DPI put in place.

The company pleaded guilty and were fined $1500 and a conviction has been recorded.

“It is not often we get jobs related to crustaceans, and I would say that most restaurants are obeying the law,” Mr Hohlein said.

RSPCA NSW supplied the business with the readily available Department of Primary Industry’s pamphlet ‘Guidelines for Avoiding Cruelty in Shellfish Preparation’ which outlines the industry standard for the humane treatment of crustaceans.

This matter is the first crustacean conviction RSPCA NSW has seen.

Crustaceans were added to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 1997 after it was medically proven they feel pain.

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