Farmed prawns and langoustines are produced in enormous quantities globally, yet welfare standards remain poorly developed despite growing evidence that crustaceans can experience pain and stress.
Prawns and shrimps represent one of the largest-scale animal welfare blind spots in global food production. The combination of enormous production volumes, poor welfare standards, and historical assumptions about crustacean sentience has meant that billions of animals may experience avoidable suffering largely unnoticed. The scientific evidence for nociception in decapods has strengthened significantly in recent years, creating a moral case for precautionary welfare improvements. Eyestalk ablation is particularly concerning as a routine industry practice causing clear harm to breeding females. Consumer and retailer pressure for welfare improvements, combined with certification scheme development, offers the most practical near-term pathway to change.