Shrimp is the most valuable traded seafood commodity globally, with production dominated by intensive tropical aquaculture systems that have attracted growing welfare scrutiny as evidence of crustacean sentience accumulates.
The welfare of farmed shrimp has historically received minimal attention based on assumptions that crustaceans lack the neural complexity for sentience. Emerging evidence challenges this assumption - crustaceans show nociception, avoidance learning, and stress responses consistent with some capacity for suffering. Eyestalk ablation, carried out to control reproduction, causes clear trauma. Intensive stocking denies natural space requirements. While significant scientific uncertainty remains, the precautionary principle supports welfare consideration for shrimp farming. Mechanical stun-killing methods for shrimp are in development and represent an important welfare improvement at slaughter.