Shrimp Welfare in Global Aquaculture

Shrimp is one of the most globally traded seafood products, and the welfare of farmed shrimp involves both individual animal welfare considerations and major environmental impacts.

Key Facts

Global shrimp aquaculture produces around 5 million tonnes annually
Stocking densities in intensive shrimp ponds can be extremely high
Eyestalk ablation is used to accelerate reproduction in broodstock shrimp
Shrimp show avoidance of noxious stimuli suggesting some capacity for pain-like experience
Disease outbreaks including white spot syndrome cause massive mortality events in shrimp farms

Welfare Considerations

Eyestalk ablation, which involves crushing or removing the eyestalks of female shrimp to induce spawning, causes injury and is practised without anaesthetic. The evidence for shrimp sentience is less strong than for fish and crustaceans, but the precautionary principle argues for welfare consideration. Disease events cause mass mortality under acute stress conditions. Improving welfare standards in shrimp production requires both sentience research and practical production system reform.

What You Can Do

Choose ASC-certified shrimp as a minimum standard
Support organisations researching shrimp sentience and welfare
Advocate for alternatives to eyestalk ablation in shrimp broodstock management
Reduce shrimp consumption from uncertified intensive systems
Support capacity building for welfare auditing in shrimp-producing countries