Mangrove crabs are farmed and traded live across Southeast Asia, with welfare concerns about individual housing, starvation during fattening, and inhumane slaughter practices.
Mangrove crab welfare in fattening and trading operations is compromised by individual confinement that prevents all normal movement, starvation during pre-transport holding, and the physical damage of live trade. Moulting crabs in individual cages cannot flee or seek shelter, increasing vulnerability stress. Pre-transport starvation reduces body condition and welfare simultaneously. The growing scientific evidence for decapod sentience makes these welfare impacts morally significant. Minimum space requirements, elimination of prolonged starvation, and adoption of rapid chilling before slaughter would substantially improve welfare across the mangrove crab supply chain.