Shrimp is the most consumed seafood globally, and intensive aquaculture practices raise growing welfare concerns for these crustaceans.
Evidence has grown that shrimp and other crustaceans have functional nociception, meaning they respond to harmful stimuli in ways suggesting they may suffer. Eyestalk ablation involves crushing the eyestalk to force reproductive maturation and is performed without anesthesia on millions of shrimp annually. High-density ponds create poor water quality and disease pressure. Rapid killing methods are not used despite evidence of pain capacity.