Moment animal rights activist who targeted David Attenborough ‘frees’ live lobster from restaurant and releases it into the harbour after falsely believing it was to be eaten

An animal rights activist ‘freed’ a lobster from a restaurant and released it into the harbour after she falsely believed it was destined for the dinner plate. 

New footage shows Emma Smart, 47, casually strolling up to the restaurant Catch at the Old Fish Market in Weymouth, Dorset, and hovering in its doorway. 

She dashes inside two minutes later and makes a beeline for the large fish tank in what appears to be the kitchen, where the pet lobster is kept and an unsuspecting member of staff stands.

Video captures the ‘misguided’ marine biologist tussling with the member of staff, who grabs Smart’s arm as they use all their might to keep the activist away from the tank. 

Losing their grip, the loyal staff member defiantly pushes Smart away and jumps between the lobster and intruder – as they keep their arms raised against the marine biologist, who wears a rainbow-coloured jumper. 

Pushing her opponent away with her right arm, Smart plunges her left hand into the tank and grabs the lobster before storming out of the restaurant – beast in hand.

Smart rushes out of the venue and towards the harbour a few yards away as the desperate member of staff yanks her right arm, and leans back, with hopes of stopping the dramatic release. 

The loyal staff member is pulled across the road with the force of the activist’s walk, as another suited member of staff rushes to help. 

Yet despite further efforts by the restaurant’s staff, the eco-activist drops the lobster into the sea. It is not known whether it survived and has not been seen since the incident happened in April last year. 

Unbeknown to Smart, the animal was the pet of restaurant owner, Anthony Cooper, for two-and-a-half years – and was used to educate children. 

Smart was handed a three-year restraining order last week banning her from being within 10 metres of the Catch after making the ‘impulsive’ decision.

The defendant admitted one count of causing criminal damage to a lobster when she appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court. 

The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence on charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and assault in relation to allegations of Smart shoving a member of staff. 

Ben Thompson, prosecuting, said: ‘At 9pm on April 10 last year the defendant was waiting outside the entrance of the restaurant.

‘When the guests are leaving she comes in and a member of staff attempts to push her out of the property.

‘Eventually Ms Smart makes her way towards the tank that holds the crayfish, which is actually a lobster.

‘It had belonged to the restaurant owner Anthony Cooper for two-and-a-half years and was not for sale but instead for education reasons when children visit.

‘Ms Smart reached into the fish tank and took the lobster. Multiple members of staff tried to stop her but she left and leaned over a wall before placing it in the harbour, with the lobster not seen again.’

Kitan Ososami, defending, said Ms Smart made an ‘impulsive’ decision to take the lobster after seeing it in the tank.

She said: ‘She acted on impulse. She cares very deeply about animals and marine welfare and this was the driving factor behind her committing this offence.’

Smart, previously of Rodwell Street, Weymouth, but now living in West Wales, was given a conditional discharge lasting for eight months.

The judge also imposed a restraining order for three years banning her from going within 10 metres of the restaurant or approaching staff or guests.

Her Honour Judge Susan Evans said: ‘The lobster was not there for consumption. It was there for educational purposes.

‘You were determined to take it from the tank and you placed it in the harbour. It was a deeply misguided thing to have done.

‘It was not a good thing for the lobster at all and whether or not it survived, we don’t know.’

This was not the first incident Smart, who said she ‘cares very deeply about animals’, caused a disturbance in the Michelin Guide restaurant. 

She previously appeared in court when she confronted Sir David Attenborough for not doing enough about climate change as he dined at the Catch.

Smart shouted ‘at the top of her lungs’ towards the broadcaster accusing him of lying to her in a letter he sent to her while she was in prison for her part in an M25 Insulate Britain protest.

She said he told her he had retired from public speaking after COP26 in 2021 but she then found out he was filming the new BBC series ‘Wild Isles’.

The eco-activist eventually had to be dragged out by two police officers and the restaurant owner but continued to shout outside.

She was issued with a section 35 dispersal order and then arrested for failing to comply with it.

The charge was cleared when a judge ruled she had not been given enough time to comply with the order.

She had previously been jailed for four months in November 2021 after an Insulate Britain climate protest.