Peta lobster advert declined on ferry route

An advert encouraging people to go vegan has been blocked from transport routes between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, an animal rights charity has claimed.

The advert by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) shows a lobster body with the head of a dog and a caption which reads "If you wouldn't eat your dog, why eat a lobster? Both feel pain, go vegan".

Peta said the billboards would have been placed at Land's End airport terminal and on the Scillonian ferry at cafes selling sea life, ahead of the Taste of Scilly Festival in September.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group said the advert was declined in its original form and Peta was asked to resubmit a revised advert.

Peta said the billboards would have been placed at Land's End airport terminal and on the Scillonian ferry

Peta vice president of vegan corporate projects Dawn Carr, said: "Lobsters are sensitive individuals with unique personalities, just like the animal companions many Scillonians share their homes with, and they deserve to live in peace."

It said the travel operator claimed the adverts represented a "conflict of interest with wider businesses".

However, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group said its advertising space was "primarily reserved for island-based businesses".

It said: "We apply the same guidelines to all advertising to ensure content remains respectful of the Isles of Scilly community and its economy.

"We welcome diverse viewpoints, providing they meet our advertising criteria.

"Our aim is to ensure that all adverts are in keeping with our responsibilities to the community we serve."