Shrimp is the most consumed seafood globally, yet welfare considerations for farmed shrimp remain underdeveloped. Growing evidence of shrimp sentience demands attention to their welfare.
The scale of farmed shrimp production - billions of animals globally - means even small improvements in per-animal welfare have enormous cumulative impact. Eyestalk ablation to induce reproduction causes acute injury and potentially chronic pain. High stocking densities create stress from competition, reduced water quality, and restricted movement. The evidence base for shrimp sentience, while debated, is sufficient to warrant precautionary welfare consideration given the vast numbers involved. The shrimp welfare field is emerging rapidly with the first dedicated welfare standards beginning to appear.