Aquatic Animals

Shrimp Aquaculture Disease and Welfare

Shrimp aquaculture faces significant disease challenges from pathogens causing mass mortality and welfare concerns, with prevention strategies reducing both welfare harm and production loss.

Key Facts

White spot syndrome virus and early mortality syndrome are major shrimp aquaculture threats
Disease outbreaks cause mass mortality affecting billions of shrimp and significant production losses
Probiotic use reduces pathogen loads and antibiotic dependence in shrimp farming
Biosecurity measures including water treatment reduce disease entry risk
Genetic selection for disease resistance is advancing in shrimp breeding programs

Welfare Considerations

Shrimp disease welfare involves the suffering of billions of animals during disease progression and mass mortality events. Disease prevention through biosecurity and probiotics simultaneously improves welfare and reduces production losses, creating aligned incentives for adoption. Genetic resistance programs represent a long-term solution that reduces welfare harm through improved individual resilience.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp from certified operations with documented disease management and biosecurity programs
Support research into shrimp disease resistance genetics and welfare-friendly prevention
Advocate for probiotic use standards reducing antibiotic dependence in shrimp aquaculture
Learn about shrimp aquaculture disease challenges to evaluate welfare claims from producers