Aquaculture

Farmed Prawn Stocking Density and Aggression

Stocking density significantly affects welfare in farmed prawns, with high densities increasing aggression, stress, and disease susceptibility.

Key Facts

Prawns are omnivores with cannibalistic tendencies particularly after moulting
High stocking densities increase encounter rates and cannibalism-related mortality
Moulting prawns are soft and vulnerable to attack from intact tank-mates
Colour change to dark pigmentation is a behavioural stress indicator in some prawn species
Disease outbreaks are more severe and spread faster in overcrowded prawn ponds

Welfare Considerations

Prawn cannibalism causes suffering for individual animals that are attacked and partially consumed while moulting. The scale of prawn production means that welfare improvements affecting individual stress levels have enormous aggregate impact. Reducing stocking densities to levels that minimise cannibalism and disease-related stress is both a welfare and production quality improvement in many systems.

What You Can Do

Support organisations developing welfare standards for farmed prawns
Choose prawns from certified sources with verified stocking density limits
Advocate for prawn welfare to be included in aquaculture welfare regulations