Shrimp Biosecurity and Disease Welfare: Improving Farm Outcomes

Disease is the primary welfare and economic challenge in shrimp aquaculture, with biosecurity practices that prevent disease also preventing widespread suffering.

Key Facts

White spot syndrome virus, early mortality syndrome, and IHHNV cause enormous mortality in shrimp farms globally
Disease outbreaks in intensive shrimp ponds can kill entire populations within days
Specific pathogen-free broodstock programs have significantly reduced disease burden in major producing countries
Probiotics, better water quality management, and reduced antibiotic use improve both welfare and sustainability
Shrimp show nociceptive responses and behavioral avoidance of noxious stimuli, indicating welfare relevance of disease

Welfare Considerations

Shrimp disease prevention is one of the highest-impact welfare interventions available in aquaculture — outbreaks cause mass mortality that represents both enormous production losses and suffering at the scale of millions of animals per pond. Biosecurity measures including SPF broodstock, pond disinfection, controlled water inputs, and isolation of sick ponds prevent the disease cascades that drive indiscriminate antibiotic use with associated resistance risks. Welfare and sustainability objectives are fully aligned in disease prevention, making it an ideal focus for industry welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp products from ASC-certified producers with documented biosecurity programs
Support reduction of prophylactic antibiotic use in shrimp aquaculture through market preference
Advocate for mandatory disease monitoring and reporting requirements in shrimp production
Engage with certification bodies to ensure disease welfare considerations are included in shrimp standards
Support research into disease-resistant shrimp genetics as a welfare and sustainability solution