Prawn and Shrimp Welfare: Evidence and Standards

Key Welfare Considerations

• Shrimp and prawn aquaculture produces over 6 million tonnes annually, representing enormous potential welfare scale.
• Decapod crustaceans were included in UK animal welfare legislation following the London School of Economics review.
• Evidence for shrimp nociception includes wound-directed grooming, avoidance learning, and opioid responsiveness.
• Vannamei whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) dominates global production with specific welfare considerations.
• Stocking density in shrimp ponds significantly affects welfare through competition, injury, and disease risk.
• Water quality management — dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, ammonia — is fundamental to shrimp welfare.
• Vibrio bacterial infections cause mass mortality welfare events in intensive shrimp systems.
• White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) causes devastating mortality and welfare impacts in global shrimp production.
• Eyestalk ablation in broodstock females to accelerate spawning is a welfare-problematic practice requiring review.
• Crowding stress during harvesting and transport causes measurable physiological welfare changes in shrimp.
• Pre-harvest fasting is a welfare consideration — duration should be minimised to necessary preparation time.
• Ice slurry immersion is considered the most welfare-positive slaughter method for shrimps and prawns.
• Certification schemes including ASC Shrimp Standard are beginning to incorporate welfare criteria.
• Research into decapod welfare should urgently inform shrimp aquaculture production standards.
• The scale of shrimp production makes welfare improvements in this sector highly impactful for aggregate animal welfare.