Aquaculture

Farmed Shrimp Stress Physiology Welfare

Understanding shrimp stress physiology helps identify welfare problems and develop evidence-based interventions in intensive prawn production.

Key Facts

Crustaceans including shrimp have haemolymph glucose as a stress biomarker
Hyperglycaemia following crowding indicates acute stress response in prawns
Cortisol-like hormones are present in crustacean haemolymph though different from vertebrate systems
Immune function (haemocyte count) decreases after acute stress in prawns
Recovery time from stress events varies by species and stressor intensity

Welfare Considerations

Shrimp stress physiology provides objective evidence for welfare assessment. Measurable stress biomarkers allow comparison of different production conditions and interventions, moving welfare assessment beyond observation to physiological verification. Research validating these biomarkers for different prawn species strengthens the evidence base for welfare standards.

What You Can Do

Support research into crustacean stress physiology and welfare assessment
Advocate for biomarker-based welfare standards in prawn certification
Choose shrimp from certified farms investing in welfare science