Aquaculture

Farmed Shrimp Harvest Welfare and Slaughter

Shrimp harvest and slaughter methods have significant welfare implications given growing evidence of crustacean sentience.

Key Facts

Global shrimp aquaculture produces approximately 5 million tonnes annually
Harvest typically involves draining ponds and collecting live shrimp for transport or direct processing
Boiling live shrimp and crushing are common processing methods that may cause significant suffering
Electrical stunning before processing has been developed and is used in some European operations
The London School of Economics review concluded decapod crustaceans are sentient under UK law

Welfare Considerations

If shrimp are sentient, current harvest and slaughter methods involving live crushing, boiling or CO2 asphyxiation cause significant unnecessary suffering at enormous scale. Development and adoption of effective pre-slaughter stunning methods for shrimp is an urgent welfare priority that the industry has been slow to embrace.

What You Can Do

Support Shrimp Welfare Project research and advocacy for improved harvest and slaughter standards
Choose shrimp products from certified welfare-labelled suppliers where available
Advocate for inclusion of shrimp in national and EU animal welfare legislation
Follow Fish Welfare Initiative and Aquatic Life Institute research on crustacean welfare