Write Press Release First, Ask Questions Later

PETA cares less about biology than press coverage, as the Daily News discovers:

PETA accused Sik Gaek and East Seafood Restaurant, also in Flushing, of serving the octopus while it was still alive, and sent letters to the Queens district attorney’s office, demanding it seek animal cruelty charges against the businesses. The group also dispatched protesters to picket outside the restaurants recently, while holding signs like “Octopus Dismembered Alive.”

A PETA spokeswoman said the group is investigating the issue throughout the city and would not comment further on the dish.

But scientists say there’s a reason for the octopus acting like a creepy crawly — even when it’s dead.

“There is a lot of nerve activity that occurs in an octopus’ tentacles. It doesn’t matter if it’s dead or alive,” said Tim Carpenter, curator of fish and invertebrates at the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, Wash.

The manager of Sik Gaek said the octopus, which live in a medium-sized fish tank inside the restaurant, is killed instantly by having its head split open and its brain removed. The octopus is then immediately chopped up and served to a customer.