Aquaculture

Farmed Shrimp Harvest and Slaughter Welfare

The welfare of farmed shrimp at harvest and slaughter is largely unaddressed despite significant evidence that decapod crustaceans are sentient.

Key Facts

Shrimp are typically harvested by draining ponds or seining
Harvest involves crowding, air exposure, and sometimes crushing
Stunning before killing is not standard practice in shrimp farming
Ice slurry is increasingly used but questions remain about its efficacy
Billions of shrimp are harvested annually with no welfare assessment

Welfare Considerations

If shrimp have the capacity to suffer - supported by growing evidence - then current harvest and slaughter methods cause significant welfare harm at vast scale. The precautionary principle suggests the industry should urgently develop and adopt humane slaughter methods.

What You Can Do

Support research into shrimp welfare and sentience
Advocate for inclusion of crustacean welfare in seafood certification standards
Choose shrimp products from suppliers with transparent welfare policies