Assessing welfare conditions for farmed prawns and shrimp — the world's most valuable aquaculture commodity.
Shrimp aquaculture raises significant welfare questions. Research has demonstrated that shrimp and other decapod crustaceans possess the neural architecture for nociception and show behavioural responses to noxious stimuli that go beyond simple reflexes. The UK's Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 extended sentience recognition to decapods following the LSE review.
Common welfare problems in shrimp farming include chronic overcrowding, poor water quality (low oxygen, high ammonia), disease outbreaks (particularly WSSV, EMS/AHPND), and traumatic harvesting methods. Eyestalk ablation — the removal of one eyestalk from broodstock females to stimulate spawning — is a widely used but potentially painful procedure that lacks adequate welfare assessment.
The Shrimp Welfare Project and other organisations are working with producers to develop welfare standards. Key priorities include reducing stocking densities, improving water quality monitoring, eliminating eyestalk ablation through genetic selection, and developing humane slaughter methods.