Water quality management in farmed prawn systems is the single most critical factor for both welfare and productivity, with dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and salinity requiring continuous monitoring.
Water quality welfare in prawn aquaculture is both achievable and economically aligned — healthy prawns in good water grow faster and have lower mortality. The key welfare challenge is the reactive approach common in small-scale farming, where problems are identified only after mass mortality events. Proactive monitoring with automated alerts and management protocols prevents the acute suffering that occurs during water quality crises. Training programs for smallholder farmers in water quality management have high welfare and economic return.