Shrimp aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food sectors globally; addressing welfare concerns requires tackling eyestalk ablation, stocking density, and killing methods.
Shrimp aquaculture presents some of the most severe routine welfare harms in any farmed species, combined with extraordinary production scale. Eyestalk ablation causes acute tissue damage — the eyestalk contains organs regulating reproduction, molting, and metabolism, and its removal is both painful and physiologically disruptive. The procedure is performed without anesthetic. Alternatives including photoperiod manipulation and selective breeding for improved broodstock maturation without ablation are being developed but have not yet achieved commercial adoption. Consumer awareness has been limited but is growing following UK sentience legislation. The Shrimp Welfare Project specifically focuses on these issues and works with producers to develop and implement welfare improvements.