Restaurants in California have come under fire from animal-rights activists for serving live octopus to diners.

Some restaurants in the state serve the seafood delicacy while it is still alive and moving, prompting complaints from PETA.

A video shot by a PETA member inside one of the restaurants shows a chef slicing up a live octopus.

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Restaurants in California have come under fire from animal-rights activists for serving live octopus to diners

It is most commonly used in 'sannakji', a dish made up of moving octopus tentacles

The organisation wants to ban the consumption of live animals, but many delicacies, including a traditional Korean octopus dish, contain live animals

The organisation wants to ban the consumption of live animals, but many delicacies, including a traditional Korean octopus dish, contain live animals.

Politicians have been reluctant to become involved because they do not wish to interfere with cultural traditions.

However, PETA has now released a petition calling on lawmakers to prohibit restaurants from serving live octopus, shrimp, lobster and other marine life.

PETA launched the petition on Tuesday, alongside a video of an octopus writhing as a chef at T Equals Fish, a Koreatown sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, chops off its tentacles.

As well as live octopus, restaurants also serve live shrimp, lobster and other marine life

The organisation claims that octopuses, which are considered to be among the most intelligent invertebrates, can feel pain in the way that mammals do

The organisation claims that octopuses, which are considered to be among the most intelligent invertebrates, can feel pain in the way that mammals do.

Live octopus is served at about a dozen restaurants in California and New York, according to PETA.

It is most commonly used in 'sannakji', a dish made up of moving octopus tentacles.

PETA launched the petition on Tuesday, alongside a video of an octopus writhing as a chef at T Equals Fish, a Koreatown sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, chops off its tentacles

The delicacy is also on sale in New York, and PETA claims a dozen restaurants in the two states currently serve live octopus

PETA vice president of cruelty investigations Daphna Nachminovitch said in a statement: 'Octopuses have sophisticated nervous systems that are rich with pain receptors, so they suffer immensely for a diner's fleeting taste experience.

'PETA is calling for an end to this disgusting, uncivilized, grossly inhumane, and gruesome practice of hacking up and serving live, sensitive animals.'