Disease outbreaks in farmed shrimp cause massive mortality events and welfare suffering, driving unsustainable antibiotic use and economic losses in global aquaculture.
Disease outbreaks in shrimp farms cause welfare harms through both the disease process and management responses. WSSV-infected shrimp display reduced feeding, erratic swimming, and progressive organ failure before death. Early mortality syndrome causes hepatopancreatic necrosis — a painful pathological process if shrimp experience pain. Emergency pond drainage and disposal of infected stocks (typically by chlorination) is the primary disease management tool, causing acute welfare harm. Preventive approaches including biosecurity, probiotic supplementation, and improved water quality management reduce both disease incidence and associated welfare harm. The international shrimp industry is under increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use and improve welfare standards; ASC certification is the leading third-party welfare and sustainability standard.