Shrimp farming is one of the world's largest aquaculture sectors. Evidence increasingly suggests shrimp have sentience, raising significant welfare concerns about farming conditions.
The welfare of farmed shrimp is a growing concern as scientific evidence accumulates that decapod crustaceans are sentient. High stocking densities cause chronic stress and increase disease transmission. Eyestalk ablation causes immediate pain and chronic hormonal disruption. Slaughter by ice bath results in a slow death over many minutes. The Shrimp Welfare Project and similar organizations are working with producers to implement stunning before slaughter and reduce density-related stress, demonstrating that improvements are feasible at commercial scale.