Farmed shrimp production has expanded dramatically, but welfare standards lag behind other aquaculture species despite growing evidence of shrimp sentience.
Farmed shrimp undergo welfare-relevant procedures throughout their production cycle. Eyestalk ablation causes undeniable tissue damage and injury. High-density pond culture creates competition and disease stress. Slaughter by freezing may cause prolonged suffering if the animals experience cold-induced distress before death. At a production scale of trillions of individuals annually, even a small probability of meaningful welfare harm represents enormous aggregate suffering.