Freshwater prawns are farmed in rapidly expanding tropical aquaculture systems, with welfare considerations mirroring those of marine shrimp but in distinct production environments.
Freshwater prawn welfare in aquaculture is shaped by density-driven aggression between male prawns, water quality management, and harvesting stress. The dominance hierarchy in freshwater prawn populations means that in high-density systems, subordinate males experience chronic stress, injury from claw loss, and reduced feeding access. Appropriate stocking densities that allow dominance to be established without continuous fighting reduce these welfare costs. At harvest, rapid chilling rather than prolonged air exposure minimizes suffering. The expansion of freshwater prawn farming without concurrent welfare research represents a significant knowledge gap.