Shrimp and prawn aquaculture produces millions of tonnes annually with minimal welfare standards - emerging research and certification developments are beginning to address this gap.
Shrimp aquaculture welfare is among the most challenging issues in farmed animal welfare - the scale (hundreds of billions of individuals), the uncertainty about sentience (though decapod sentience recognition is now established), and the near-total absence of welfare standards combine to create a significant welfare frontier. Key welfare priorities include humane slaughter (rapid chilling or electrical stunning), eliminating eyestalk ablation, and improving water quality standards. The Shrimp Welfare Project's industry-engagement model - working with producers on achievable improvements - may be more effective than certification-led approaches given industry structure.