Disease outbreaks in shrimp aquaculture cause catastrophic mortality and welfare harm, and disease management practices have significant welfare implications for surviving and affected shrimp.
Shrimp disease outbreaks cause acute and massive welfare harm through rapid systemic illness and death for millions of individuals simultaneously. The distress experienced by shrimp during acute viral or bacterial infection, while less well characterised than in vertebrates, involves behavioural and physiological changes indicating compromised wellbeing. Pond depopulation by disinfection to control disease spread kills all surviving shrimp including those not yet clinically affected, representing a welfare harm justified by preventing wider spread. Disease prevention through improved biosecurity and pathogen-free broodstock is the most effective welfare intervention available to the industry.