Crayfish farming is expanding globally. Evidence on crayfish sentience and welfare needs is growing, raising important questions for the industry and consumers.
Crayfish occupy an uncertain position in welfare science — more evidence of sentience than previously assumed, but with significant uncertainty remaining about the nature of their experiences. The precautionary principle suggests that welfare precautions are warranted given the scale of their use and the evidence base. Key welfare improvements include providing shelter and refugia to reduce aggression and cannibalism, maintaining adequate water quality, and investigating more humane slaughter methods. The science is developing rapidly.