Managing ammonia and water quality in intensive shrimp systems is a welfare and production challenge. Understanding the physiological effects of poor water quality informs appropriate management standards.
Shrimp chronic stress from sublethal ammonia exposure impairs immunity, reproduction, and feed conversion — economic signals that align with welfare concerns even in the absence of legal welfare protection for crustaceans. The precautionary principle applied to shrimp sentience supports managing water quality to reduce physiological stress as a welfare priority, regardless of the uncertainty about their subjective experience. Good water quality management benefits both shrimp welfare and production outcomes.