Aquaculture

Farmed Shrimp Density and Disease Welfare

High stocking densities in intensive shrimp farming increase disease risk, oxygen depletion and stress, with significant animal welfare implications.

Key Facts

Intensive shrimp ponds may hold 50-150 animals per square metre
White spot syndrome virus and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis cause mass mortalities
Overcrowding stress suppresses immune function and increases susceptibility to disease
Dissolved oxygen crashes at high density cause severe respiratory distress
Lower density semi-intensive systems show better survival and welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Intensive shrimp density creates conditions of chronic and acute suffering at massive scale. Disease outbreaks causing mass mortality are a major welfare crisis in global aquaculture.

What You Can Do

Choose shrimp certified under schemes with stocking density standards
Support research into shrimp sentience and welfare indicators
Reduce shrimp consumption given limited welfare oversight in most supply chains