Disease is the most significant challenge in shrimp aquaculture, causing mass mortality events with welfare and economic consequences. Prevention-focused health management is key.
Shrimp disease events cause significant welfare impacts alongside economic losses. Mass mortality events from EMS or white spot disease involve large numbers of dying or dead animals in acute welfare crisis. Surviving shrimp in disease-affected ponds experience the stress of deteriorating water quality as mortalities accumulate. Prevention-focused management - maintaining water quality, biosecurity to prevent pathogen introduction, and optimising shrimp health - reduces both mortality and suffering. When disease outbreaks occur, rapid depopulation decisions can limit prolonged suffering in affected ponds. The welfare of shrimp in diseased systems is significant given increasing evidence of their sentience capacity.