Shrimp aquaculture produces millions of tonnes of food annually but remains almost entirely without welfare standards despite growing evidence that crustaceans can experience pain.
Shrimp welfare sits at the intersection of emerging sentience science and an industry operating almost entirely without welfare oversight. The recognition of decapod crustacean sentience in UK legislation has not yet translated into aquaculture welfare standards. Eyestalk ablation is the most obvious welfare crisis — this is a painful surgical procedure performed on millions of female shrimp without analgesia to override their natural reproductive suppression. Stocking densities that cause oxygen depletion create chronic stress, and slaughter methods cause unnecessary suffering. The Shrimp Welfare Project is working to develop and promote welfare standards for this neglected sector.