Maintaining optimal water quality and providing environmental complexity in shrimp ponds reduces stress and disease while supporting natural behavioral repertoires.
Shrimp welfare in aquaculture is largely determined by water quality parameters and stocking density. Oxygen depletion, ammonia toxicity, and overcrowding cause measurable physiological stress responses. While shrimp sentience is still scientifically debated, applying the precautionary principle by improving water quality and providing substrate complexity costs little and delivers productivity benefits alongside potential welfare improvements.