Shrimp are among the most consumed seafood globally, yet post-harvest handling and slaughter practices receive little welfare scrutiny despite growing evidence of crustacean sentience.
The question of shrimp sentience has moved from fringe to mainstream scientific discussion. The Birch review (2021), commissioned by the UK government, concluded that the evidence for sentience in decapod crustaceans is sufficient to merit precautionary welfare consideration. Current post-harvest practices — chilling, icing, or boiling while conscious — likely cause suffering if shrimp are sentient. The sheer scale of shrimp production means even modest welfare improvements could affect billions of animals annually. Certification bodies and major buyers have been slow to incorporate crustacean welfare into standards, but consumer and regulatory pressure is beginning to create change.