Global shrimp production affects hundreds of billions of animals annually, with welfare concerns spanning intensive farming conditions, transport, and slaughter, compounded by significant uncertainty about shrimp capacity for pain.
The scale of shrimp production combined with growing evidence of their capacity for nociception makes shrimp welfare one of the highest-priority issues in aquaculture welfare. Even if shrimp have limited subjective experience, the enormous numbers involved mean that welfare improvements affecting billions of individuals could have significant total welfare impact. Current production standards globally pay virtually no attention to shrimp welfare, with high stocking densities, poor water quality management, and inhumane slaughter methods standard practice. The Shrimp Welfare Project is pioneering welfare assessment and improvement advocacy for this neglected species group.