Shrimps are among the most numerous farmed animals globally but their welfare has been neglected due to uncertainty about sentience - emerging research is shifting the scientific consensus.
Shrimp welfare represents a frontier in applied animal welfare science. The scale of shrimp farming - hundreds of billions of animals annually - means even small welfare improvements at the individual level aggregate to enormous total welfare impact. The scientific evidence for shrimp sentience is contested but has strengthened significantly since Elwood's foundational research. The precautionary principle suggests that welfare improvements justified by the scale and potential for suffering should proceed. The Shrimp Welfare Project is pioneering evidence-based welfare standards for an industry that has historically operated with no welfare consideration. Consumer awareness and retailer engagement are key levers.