# Shrimp farming

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shrimp_farming
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shrimp_farming.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_farming
> Source revision: 1355421058
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Breeding shrimp for food

The gate of a traditional shrimp farm in [Kerala](/source/Kerala), [India](/source/India) which uses the tide to harvest shrimp

**Shrimp farming** is a form of [aquaculture](/source/Aquaculture) that takes place in marine or freshwater environments, producing [shrimp](/source/Shrimp) or [prawns](/source/Prawn)[Note 1] (crustaceans of the groups [Caridea](/source/Caridea) or [Dendrobranchiata](/source/Dendrobranchiata)) for human consumption. However, the industry has raised concerns about environmental damage to [mangrove](/source/Mangrove) ecosystems, reliance on [slave labor](/source/Slave_labor), and animal welfare issues.[1]

## Marine

Main article: [Marine shrimp farming](/source/Marine_shrimp_farming)

Shrimp grow-out pond on a farm in [South Korea](/source/South_Korea)

Commercial marine shrimp farming began in the 1970s, and production grew steeply, particularly to match the market demands of the [United States](/source/United_States), [Japan](/source/Japan), and Western [Europe](/source/Europe). The total global production of farmed shrimp reached more than 2.1 million [tonnes](/source/Tonne) in 1991, representing a value of nearly [US$](/source/United_States_dollar)9 billion. About 30% of farmed shrimp is produced in [Asia](/source/Asia), particularly in [China](/source/China) and [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia). The other 54.1% is produced mainly in [Latin America](/source/Latin_America), where [Brazil](/source/Brazil), [Ecuador](/source/Ecuador), and [Mexico](/source/Mexico) are the largest producers. The largest exporting nation is Indonesia.

Shrimp farming has changed from traditional, small-scale businesses in [Southeast Asia](/source/Southeast_Asia) into a global industry. Technological advances have led to growing shrimp at ever higher densities, and [broodstock](/source/Broodstock) is shipped worldwide. Virtually all farmed shrimp are of the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Penaeidae](/source/Penaeidae), and just two species—*[Litopenaeus vannamei](/source/Whiteleg_shrimp)* (Pacific white shrimp) 70% and *[Penaeus monodon](/source/Penaeus_monodon)* (giant tiger prawn) 20%— account for roughly 90% of all farmed shrimp.

These industrial [monocultures](/source/Monoculture) used to be very susceptible to diseases, which caused several regional wipe-outs of farm shrimp populations in past decades. Increasing ecological problems, repeated disease outbreaks, and pressure and criticism from [NGOs](/source/Non-governmental_organization), consumer countries and even producers themselves, led to changes in the industry in the late 1990s and generally stronger regulation by governments.

In 1999, a program aimed at developing and promoting more [sustainable farming](/source/Sustainable_agriculture) practices was initiated, including governmental bodies, industry representatives, and environmental organizations.

## Freshwater

Main article: [Freshwater prawn farming](/source/Freshwater_prawn_farming)

A farmer constructing a shrimp farm in [Pekalongan](/source/Pekalongan), Indonesia

Freshwater prawn farming shares many characteristics with, and many of the same problems as, [marine shrimp farming](/source/Marine_shrimp_farming). Unique problems are introduced by the developmental lifecycle of the main species (the giant river prawn, *[Macrobrachium rosenbergii](/source/Macrobrachium_rosenbergii)*).[2] The global annual production of freshwater prawns in 2010 was about 670,000 tons, of which China produced 615,000 tons (92%).[3]

## Animal welfare

**Eyestalk Ablation**

Main article: [Eyestalk ablation](/source/Eyestalk_ablation)

Eyestalk ablation is the removal of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) [eyestalks](/source/Eyestalk) from a [crustacean](/source/Crustacean). It is routinely practiced on female shrimps (or prawns) in almost every marine shrimp maturation or reproduction facility in the world, but has faced increasing criticism in recent years.[4] The aim of [ablation](/source/Ablation#Medicine) is to stimulate the female shrimp to develop mature ovaries and [spawn.](/source/Spawn_(biology))[5]

Poor captive conditions for shrimp cause inhibitions in females that prevent them from developing mature [ovaries](/source/Ovary). Even in conditions where a given species will develop ovaries and spawn in captivity, use of eyestalk ablation increases total egg production and increases the percentage of females in a given population that will participate in reproduction. Once females have been subjected to eyestalk ablation, complete ovarian development often ensues within as little as 3 to 10 days.

Eyestalk ablation has faced criticism from animal welfare advocates. Alternatives such as higher quality feed, and maintaining a 2:1 sex ratio of female to male shrimp within tanks have been found effective, but are not yet widespread.[6]

### Slaughter Methods

Shrimp are commonly slaughtered using the ice slurry method, in which they are immersed in a mixture of ice and water with the aim of inducing thermal shock.[7] However, animal welfare organizations have raised concerns that this method is often ineffective, leading instead to death by asphyxiation and prolonged suffering.[8] In response to growing ethical concerns, more humane alternatives have been explored. Electrical stunning is currently considered the most humane pre-slaughter method available for shrimp, as it renders them unconscious significantly faster and more effectively than ice slurry or asphyxiation.[9] In 2022, the United Kingdom legally recognized decapod [crustaceans](/source/Crustacean), including shrimp, as sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, further reinforcing the need for improved welfare practices during slaughter.[10]

### Animal Welfare Initiatives in Shrimp Farming

In recent years, animal welfare groups have intensified their campaigns to improve shrimp farming standards. [Mercy for Animals](/source/Mercy_for_Animals) led the world's first public demonstration for shrimp welfare, prompting Tesco in 2024 to commit to banning eyestalk ablation and ice-slurry stunning, replacing them with 100% electrical stunning for key species, Penaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon, by 2027.[11] The UK-based Shrimp Welfare Project supports humane slaughter practices globally by providing free electrical stunners to producers and encouraging broader adoption of electrical stunning alongside efforts to eliminate eyestalk ablation.[12] Similarly, the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) has urged retailers, including [Tesco](/source/Tesco), [Marks & Spencer](/source/Marks_%26_Spencer), [Sainsbury's](/source/Sainsbury's), [Ocado](/source/Ocado), [Waitrose](/source/Waitrose), and [Co‑op](/source/The_Co-operative_Group), to end ice-slurry slaughter and eyestalk ablation and to implement electrical stunning in their supply chains.[13]

## See also

- [Exploitation and conservation of mangroves](/source/Mangrove#Exploitation_and_conservation)

- [Pain in invertebrates](/source/Pain_in_invertebrates)

- [Integrated mangrove-shrimp aquaculture](/source/Integrated_mangrove-shrimp_aquaculture): creates less destruction of mangroves in mangrove-areas, subjected to tidal flow reducing disease

- [Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture](/source/Integrated_multi-trophic_aquaculture): can be used to reduce diseases compared to when closed-ponds systems are used

## Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** The terminology may be confusing as different agencies draw different distinctions between "[shrimp](/source/Shrimp)" and "[prawns](/source/Prawn)".

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CF_2-0)** Kateman, Brian (January 12, 2023). ["You don't want to know where your shrimp comes from"](https://www.fastcompany.com/90833406/shrimp-farming-unethical-vegan-alternative). *Fast Company*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-freshwater_3-0)** New, M. B.: *[Farming Freshwater Prawns](http://library.enaca.org/Shrimp/Publications/FAO_Macrobrachium_manual_2003.pdf)*; FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 428, 2002. ISSN 0429-9345.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-figis_fresh_4-0)** Data extracted from the [FAO Fisheries Global Aquaculture Production Database](http://www.fao.org/figis/servlet/static?dom=collection&xml=global-aquaculture-production.xml) for freshwater crustaceans. As of October 2012[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shrimp_farming&action=edit), the most recent data sets are for 2010 and sometimes contain estimates. Accessed October 21, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The shocking practice that shows prawn farming is as cruel as factory farming"](https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/prawn-farming.php). *www.animalsaustralia.org*. Retrieved 2020-09-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Uawisetwathana, Umaporn; Leelatanawit, Rungnapa; Klanchui, Amornpan; Prommoon, Juthatip; Klinbunga, Sirawut; Karoonuthaisiri, Nitsara (2011). ["Insights into Eyestalk Ablation Mechanism to Induce Ovarian Maturation in the Black Tiger Shrimp"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3168472). *PLOS ONE*. **6** (9) e24427. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011PLoSO...624427U](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011PLoSO...624427U). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0024427](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0024427). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3168472](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3168472). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [21915325](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21915325).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Stirling researchers identify viable ablation alternatives for shrimp hatcheries « Global Aquaculture Advocate"](https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/advocate/stirling-researchers-identify-viable-ablation-alternatives-shrimp-hatcheries/). *Global Aquaculture Alliance*. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** zuridah (2025-02-21). ["Waitrose to stop selling "killed in ice slurry" prawns"](https://aquaasiapac.com/2025/02/21/waitrose-to-stop-selling-killed-in-ice-slurry-prawns/). *Aqua Culture Asia Pacific*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (2025-02-15). ["Waitrose to stop selling suffocated farmed prawns, as campaigners say they feel pain"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/prawn-farming-cruelty-electrical-stunning-waitrose). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Humane Slaughter Initiative"](https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/humane-slaughter-initiative). *Shrimp Welfare Project*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Lobsters, octopus and crabs recognised as sentient beings"](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lobsters-octopus-and-crabs-recognised-as-sentient-beings). *GOV.UK*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Johnson, Kimberly (2024-08-19). ["Tesco Commits to Banning the Cruelest Shrimp-Farming Practices"](https://mercyforanimals.org/blog/tesco-shrimp-welfare-progress/). *Mercy For Animals*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Shrimp Welfare Project"](https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/). *Shrimp Welfare Project*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (2025-02-15). ["Waitrose to stop selling suffocated farmed prawns, as campaigners say they feel pain"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/prawn-farming-cruelty-electrical-stunning-waitrose). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2025-07-04.

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shrimp farming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_farming) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_farming?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.