Shrimp are farmed in enormous quantities globally with minimal welfare consideration at slaughter. Evidence for shrimp sentience and the development of humane slaughter methods are transforming this area.
Shrimp slaughter welfare has moved from theoretical concern to practical policy domain. The legal recognition of shrimp sentience in the UK creates an obligation to consider their welfare at slaughter. Live boiling, while traditional, provides no insensibility before death and is increasingly difficult to justify given available alternatives. Electrical stunning renders shrimp insensible and is compatible with commercial processing scale. The transition to humane shrimp slaughter requires producer investment and consumer willingness to pay the small premium associated with higher welfare systems.