Welfare of Farmed Freshwater Prawns and Shrimp

Freshwater prawn and shrimp farming is expanding globally with significant welfare concerns, particularly regarding crowding, disease pressure, and slaughter methods that fail to address crustacean sentience evidence.

Key Facts

Global farmed shrimp production exceeds 5 million tonnes annually, predominantly from southeast Asia
Crowded stocking densities in intensive shrimp farms increase disease transmission and stress-related behaviours
White spot syndrome virus and other pathogens cause catastrophic mortalities, often requiring prophylactic chemical treatment
Evidence for nociception and stress responses in decapod crustaceans is now strong
Most shrimp are killed by chilling on ice, a method associated with prolonged stress and possible suffering

Welfare Considerations

Freshwater and marine shrimp farming represents one of the largest-scale animal production systems with some of the least developed welfare standards. The evidence base for decapod crustacean sentience has grown significantly, yet shrimp welfare standards in most producing countries remain minimal. Improved welfare requires action on stocking density, disease management, water quality, and the development of more humane slaughter methods. Certification schemes are beginning to address these issues but coverage remains limited.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp certified to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standard which includes welfare elements
Support the Shrimp Welfare Project and other organisations working to improve farmed shrimp welfare
Reduce overall shrimp consumption given the current limited welfare standards across most of the supply chain
Advocate for decapod crustacean welfare to be incorporated into aquaculture certification requirements
Support research into rapid and humane killing methods for farmed shrimp and other crustaceans