Abalone farming is a specialised aquaculture sector with specific welfare challenges related to this slow-growing marine gastropod's biological needs.
Abalone welfare sits at the frontier of invertebrate welfare science. Their nervous system differs fundamentally from vertebrate pain systems, and scientific evidence for pain experience in gastropods is uncertain. Disease management is the most critical welfare consideration in abalone farming, as viral and bacterial disease outbreaks cause high mortality. The precautionary principle suggests minimising unnecessary handling and optimising water quality as appropriate welfare management regardless of the sentience question.