Shining a Spotlight on Shrimp Welfare

At FAI we’re committed to enhancing the wellbeing of all farmed aquatic species. So, it won’t come as a surprise that with more than 400 billion shrimp alive on farms around the world at any given time, we’re working hard to promote and improve shrimp welfare, with a specific focus in Southeast Asia. We caught up with FAI’s Project Manager and director of Bio Creative Labs, Pau Badia Grimalt, for his insights into why shrimp welfare is such an important topic and some of the steps FAI is taking to enhance its status in the industry.

I’ve been working in the aquaculture sector for 15 years, 11 of which have been in Southeast Asia. During this time, it’s been remarkable to witness the changing attitudes toward shrimp welfare and the positive impact improved welfare practices have had on farms.

In the space of just a few years we’ve gone from shrimp welfare being virtually unheard of in the region, to last month awarding the first ever shrimp welfare assessment certificate to Mr Chana in Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

As President of the TaTong Shrimp Club - and a farmer in the province with the highest shrimp production volume in Thailand - Mr Chana’s recent achievement is an indication of the growing interest in, and understanding of, welfare among Thai shrimp farmers. What was once at best a fringe consideration is now becoming an integral part of an increasing number of shrimp farmers’ rearing protocol.

And while this growing interest and understanding of welfare is good news for the wellbeing of shrimp farmed in Southeast Asia, it’s also great news for the whole shrimp industry.

“I’m happy that my shrimp are happy”

While fish welfare is a relatively new concept in the aquaculture sector, the idea that crustaceans, including shrimp, can experience pain and distress is even newer. Just as increasing scientific evidence proved taking fish welfare seriously was the right thing to do – from both a fish wellbeing and performance perspective – it’s proven the same with shrimp.  

We’ve found shrimp reared to better welfare standards are healthier, achieve better growth rates, require fewer medical interventions and have higher quality meat. This is a result of carefully monitoring and optimising the shrimp’s, environment, behaviour, health and nutrition. For example, maintaining high water quality reduces stress and disease risk. Additionally, feeding the shrimp the right amount and frequency ensures they receive optimal nutrition and avoids overfeeding, which reduces water pollution and costs. By carefully observing the shrimp's swimming and eating behaviour and looking out for injuries or growth abnormalities, farmers can tell when something's wrong and promptly address any issues, leading to improved overall health and welfare. Not only do shrimp experience an improved quality of life, but the farmers looking after them can command a higher market price and rear shrimp more efficiently.

As FAI continues to champion shrimp welfare, we’ve also found shrimp processors and producers who prioritise welfare also enhance their brand’s reputation and build trust with consumers. In a crowded marketplace, shrimp welfare is helping businesses stand out against the competition.  

Taking welfare seriously is a win-win situation for shrimp, shrimp farmers and processors.

With the benefits of rearing happy shrimp going well beyond their wellbeing, Mr Chana speaks for a whole cohort of Southeast Asian shrimp processors and fellow farmers when he says: “I’m happy that my shrimp are happy”.

Farmer-friendly assessment tools

Since 2023 we’ve been supporting farmers in Southeast Asia with specialist training in shrimp welfare through the Shrimp Welfare Project. This project was first set up in 2021 with a focus on Brazil and Thailand but has since expanded to include Honduras and Vietnam.  

As well as developing welfare indicators, providing free online courses and teaching how to carry out welfare assessments, later this summer FAI will also officially launch and incorporate its online shrimp welfare assessment technology as part of HydroNeo’s existing online farm management tools. HydroNeo is a Thai-based business that develops and sells farm management software that is used widely across shrimp farms in the region; helping farmers easily record, monitor and assess the performance and welfare status of their shrimp using mobile device.

The development of this technology is vital for helping to promote better welfare in the region. Having worked with farmers across Southeast Asia for a long time, I know traditional assessments and farm management tools can be time-consuming and slow to provide feedback. The easy-to-use nature of the FAI’s shrimp welfare assessment technology and its immediate feedback makes it a game-changer for the industry.

Farmers will be able to send results to potential buyers and change farming practices to improve performance, such as optimising the surface area used to feed and closely monitoring health indicators that they didn't consider before. They will even be able to share welfare outcomes among fellow farmers to raise awareness about the benefits of improved shrimp welfare.  

A promising future

Welfare is still a relatively new concept in the region, but with the right support I’m witnessing an increasing number of farmers realising how welfare indicators are not only easy to monitor and assess but how they can also have a significant, positive impact on business performance and profitability.  

The progress we’ve made is promising, and with continued collaboration and dedication, we can ensure a brighter future for shrimp farming, where welfare and productivity go hand in hand. 

Find out more about the Shrimp Welfare Project here: https://www.myshrimp.farm