Shrimp and prawn farming is one of the fastest growing aquaculture sectors. Evidence of crustacean sentience raises important welfare questions for this massive industry.
Shrimp aquaculture operates at a scale where even small improvements in individual animal welfare translate to enormous aggregate impacts given the billions of animals involved. The scientific evidence that decapod crustaceans experience pain and may have some capacity for suffering is now sufficient to justify serious welfare consideration. Current industry practices including eyestalk ablation, live boiling without stunning, and extremely high densities causing chronic injury are all welfare concerns requiring urgent attention. The development and adoption of humane killing methods for shrimp, and alternatives to eyestalk ablation, are critical research and industry priorities.