Disease outbreaks cause mass mortality in prawn farming representing both welfare and economic disasters, with prevention-focused management improving outcomes.
Prawn disease outbreaks represent large-scale welfare emergencies. Mass mortality events cause deaths across the sentience gradient: whether prawns experience suffering during disease is uncertain, but the scale creates precautionary welfare concern. Prevention through biosecurity, appropriate stocking density and water quality management reduces both disease occurrence and the need for antibiotic treatment with its own welfare and public health implications. The economic devastation of disease outbreaks creates strong alignment between commercial and welfare interests in prevention-focused management.