King prawns (Penaeus monodon) are among the most commercially valuable crustaceans in global aquaculture. Growing evidence of their capacity for pain and stress is prompting welfare reforms in the industry.
King prawn welfare in aquaculture raises serious concerns at multiple production stages. Eyestalk ablation, performed without anesthesia to accelerate reproductive cycling, is a painful mutilation with no humane alternative currently in widespread use. Research programs are exploring hormone injections as a replacement. High-density stocking causes hypoxia, aggression, and immune suppression. Harvest typically involves rapid chilling or direct icing of live animals — a practice that does not cause immediate death in crustaceans and may involve prolonged suffering. The Shrimp Welfare Project and industry partners are developing electrical stunning protocols to render prawns insensible before killing. Consumer demand for high-welfare certification is beginning to drive change.