The global shrimp farming industry is beginning to address welfare concerns, driven by retailer commitments and the work of organizations like the Shrimp Welfare Project.
Shrimp aquaculture welfare reform is progressing but remains at an early stage. The Shrimp Welfare Project is working directly with major producers and retailers to eliminate eyestalk ablation, a painful procedure removing major sensory organs. Progress has been made with some producers voluntarily committing to elimination timelines. The ASC is developing welfare indicators that could be incorporated into existing sustainability certification. Major retailers including Tesco and Marks and Spencer have made commitments to source from suppliers working toward eyestalk ablation elimination. The scale of shrimp production means even incremental welfare improvements affect hundreds of billions of individuals. Research into shrimp sentience continues to strengthen the welfare case. Pre-slaughter humane stunning has not been validated for shrimp but is under active research.