Aquaculture Shrimp Post-Larvae Welfare

Shrimp farming begins with hatchery post-larvae production - early life stage welfare affects survival and long-term health outcomes.

Key Facts

Post-larvae (PL) shrimp are transferred from hatchery to pond or tank at 12-20 days of age
Survival through the early growth phase is highly variable and influenced by water quality
Salinity, temperature, and pH management during the larval phase affects welfare and survival
Cannibalism in larvae is a welfare and production concern at high densities
Pathogen-free specific pathogen-free broodstock are used to reduce disease in post-larvae
Transport of PLs to grow-out farms involves handling stress and potential mortality

Welfare Considerations

Shrimp post-larvae welfare is an emerging area as the commercial importance of shrimp farming and awareness of crustacean sentience both grow. Early life stage welfare is particularly important because poor conditions at this stage have cascading effects on survival and health throughout grow-out.

What You Can Do

Support research into shrimp sentience and early life stage welfare
Ask retailers about the sourcing standards of shrimp products they sell
Advocate for inclusion of shrimp welfare in aquaculture certification programmes
Support Shrimp Welfare Project and related organisations working on commercial shrimp welfare