Marine Shrimp Welfare: From Wild Trawl to Intensive Aquaculture

Marine shrimp are among the most consumed seafood globally. The welfare implications of trawl fisheries, intensive aquaculture, and live processing affect billions of animals annually.

Key Facts

Global shrimp production exceeds 9 million tonnes annually from both wild capture and aquaculture
Tropical shrimp trawling has among the highest bycatch ratios of any fishery — up to 10 kg bycatch per kg shrimp
Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) dominates global aquaculture, particularly in Asia and Latin America
Eyestalk ablation — removing one eye to stimulate reproduction — is routine in shrimp hatcheries
The UK recognises shrimp sentience under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022
Shrimp farming has been linked to mangrove destruction and coastal ecosystem degradation

Welfare Considerations

Eyestalk ablation in shrimp broodstock involves cutting or crushing the eyestalk of female shrimp without anaesthesia to stimulate egg production — a practice causing acute injury in animals with nociceptive capability. Farmed shrimp at high densities experience chronic stress, disease, and aggression. Trawl-caught shrimp arrive on deck mixed with massive bycatch, suffocating over many minutes. Processing often involves live shrimp being placed on ice or boiled without prior stunning. The Shrimp Welfare Project is actively working on research and advocacy to improve conditions across the supply chain.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp from farms certified to avoid eyestalk ablation where possible
Support the Shrimp Welfare Project working on industry-wide welfare improvements
Reduce shrimp consumption given the current state of welfare in most supply chains
Avoid tropical trawled shrimp due to extreme bycatch ratios and processing welfare concerns