Disease is a leading cause of mortality and suffering in farmed shrimp, with major outbreaks affecting millions of animals and raising significant welfare and economic concerns.
Whether shrimp experience disease as suffering remains scientifically uncertain, but the precautionary principle suggests that minimising disease burden serves both welfare and commercial interests. Improving pond biosecurity, water quality management, and selective breeding while reducing antibiotic use are key priorities. Certification schemes increasingly require disease management plans.