Farmed shrimp is among the most globally traded seafood commodities. Welfare certification for shrimp is nascent but developing, with growing scientific and consumer pressure for standards.
Shrimp welfare sits at a scientific frontier where the evidence for sentience is suggestive but not conclusive, the welfare risks are severe given current practices, and the scale is enormous - trillions of shrimp are farmed and slaughtered annually. The precautionary principle argument is particularly compelling here: if shrimp do experience suffering, the scale of welfare harm in current production systems would represent one of the largest animal welfare issues globally. The Shrimp Welfare Project's work demonstrates that welfare improvements in shrimp farming are achievable and some producers are receptive to welfare commitments. Consumer and retailer pressure is the primary lever for change in this sector, as welfare regulation for invertebrates is minimal globally. This is an area where individual consumer choices and advocacy have the potential for disproportionately large welfare impact if the welfare movement successfully raises the profile of shrimp suffering.