Most are killed by immersion in ice-water slurry, raising welfare concerns
Shrimp producers are encouraged to apply to take part, provided that they are able to commit to a minimum stunned volume of 2,000 tonnes of shrimp per annum and to improve welfare practices to the best of their capacity.
The successful applicants will be provided with a unit of Ace Aquatec’s Prawn Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSUTM). According to Ace, this provides effective, safe and rapid in-water stunning solutions, rendering the shrimp unconscious in less than a second and reducing handling, and therefore stress.
With over 400 billion shrimp farmed each year, the collaboration reflects a growing understanding in the aquaculture industry of the need to introduce more humane slaughter methods for shrimp, one of the world’s most widely produced aquatic species for human consumption.
Immersion in ice-water slurry remains a common method of slaughter around the world, but concerns are growing that this technique may not sufficiently stun decapods during the slaughter process.
Shrimp Welfare Project seeks to accelerate the adoption of electrical stunning for shrimp industry-wide and has so far provided producers in Latin America and Southeast Asia with access to stunning equipment.
Krzysztof Wojtas, head of programmes at Shrimp Welfare Project, said in a press release: “We are excited to partner with Ace Aquatec. Humane slaughter of animals is crucial for maintaining good welfare throughout the entire process. We are keen to actively collaborate with the shrimp farming industry and support them in making the transition towards humane slaughter. This partnership is a significant step in advancing our mission, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on shrimp welfare globally.”
Tara McGregor-Woodhams, CSMO of Ace Aquatec, added: “We’re proud to be collaborating with Shrimp Welfare Project to further our mutual goal of making humane stunning solutions accessible to shrimp farmers everywhere. With evidence pointing to shrimps’ sentience, and their sensitivity to inadequate slaughter methods, there’s an acute need to revolutionise shrimp slaughter processes globally. This partnership is taking steps to address the issue on an industry-wide scale, and we hope to expand it further in the coming months and years.”
