Aquaculture

Shrimp Welfare: The Most Numerous Farmed Animal

More shrimp are farmed globally than any other animal and almost none have any welfare protections.

Key Facts

Over 400 billion shrimp are farmed annually making them the most numerous farmed animal on Earth
Shrimp show nociceptive responses and grooming behaviour suggesting pain experience
Intensive shrimp ponds in Asia often use antibiotics and pesticides that cause stress and health problems
Most shrimp are killed by ice slurry immersion without prior stunning
The Shrimp Welfare Project advocates for welfare improvements based on scientific evidence of sentience

Welfare Considerations

Shrimp welfare has been almost entirely ignored despite their enormous numbers in aquaculture. High stocking densities cause chronic stress and disease. Poor water quality including low oxygen causes physiological distress. Most shrimp are killed by immersion in ice which in decapods causes a prolonged aversive experience before death. The aggregate suffering from poor shrimp welfare may exceed that of all other farmed animals combined due to sheer numbers.

What You Can Do

Support the Shrimp Welfare Project which campaigns for evidence-based welfare improvements
Choose shrimp with Aquaculture Stewardship Council or Best Aquaculture Practices certification
Reduce shrimp consumption given the current absence of welfare protections
Advocate for the inclusion of shrimp in animal welfare legislation
Support research into humane slaughter methods for shrimp appropriate for commercial scale production