Freshwater shrimp occupy a growing niche in both ornamental aquaculture and food production, with welfare questions paralleling those of their marine counterparts.
Freshwater shrimp welfare spans two very different contexts: ornamental aquariums where billions of small shrimp are kept for aesthetic purposes, and food production systems for larger prawn species. In both contexts, water quality is the most important welfare determinant — poor water chemistry causes rapid deterioration and death that likely involves suffering. In ornamental settings, appropriate tank cycling, appropriate stocking density, hiding places, and stable water parameters provide the basic welfare requirements. Food shrimp welfare aligns with marine counterparts — reducing density stress, avoiding harmful handling, and developing humane slaughter methods are priority areas.