Aquaculture

Farmed Shrimp Welfare: Scale and Standards

Shrimp farming produces over 5 million tonnes annually under conditions with limited welfare standards, affecting trillions of individual animals.

Key Facts

Global shrimp aquaculture affects an estimated 100-400 billion individual animals annually
Eyestalk ablation — removing eyes to induce spawning — is standard practice without anesthesia
Disease outbreaks cause 60-70% mortality in some intensive shrimp farms
The Shrimp Welfare Project works with producers on anaesthesia-based practices

Welfare Considerations

The scale of shrimp farming means that even small improvements per animal compound into enormous welfare benefits. Nociception evidence in crustaceans is growing, and the precautionary principle supports minimum welfare standards. Industry engagement has shown that higher-welfare practices are technically and economically feasible.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp certified by programs with animal welfare provisions
Support the Shrimp Welfare Project financially and through advocacy
Ask retailers about their shrimp sourcing welfare standards
Reduce shrimp consumption or shift to plant-based seafood alternatives