March Momentum: Industry & Leadership Wins

Greetings from Shrimp Welfare Project!

We're excited to share some major momentum in March!

First, we’re thrilled to celebrate Waitrose’s commitment to 100% humane slaughter for warm-water shrimps by 2026, eliminating practices like eyestalk ablation. SWP has been proud to support this transformation, working alongside Waitrose’s suppliers to make electrical stunning the new industry standard—a landmark victory that sets the stage for other retailers to follow. 

Additionally, we’re excited to welcome Robin Goist as our new Communications Lead, bringing over a decade of experience in journalism and public relations to amplify SWP’s mission. As the outgoing Comms Lead, this will be my last newsletter, but I will still be at SWP as the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer. 

Finally, we would like to congratulate Sri Rang K, India Program Coordinator at SWP, on his third work anniversary!

Have a great week!

Léa | MEL Officer

In one of the first big campaign wins this year so far, Waitrose has announced that 100% of their warm-water shrimps will be electrically stunned by the end of 2026, marking a monumental step forward for shrimp welfare. Through this commitment, the UK retailer pledges to end inhumane practices such as suffocation in ice slurry and eyestalk ablation. 

At SWP, we’re proud to have supported this journey, working closely with Waitrose’s suppliers to ensure that electrical stunning becomes the standard for humane harvesting. 

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In 2023 we started working with our supplier and a selection of our supplying farms to trial electrical stunning in our warm water prawns, with support from the Shrimp Welfare Project. From these learnings we will continue to improve the process and roll out to our entire warm water prawn supply chain by the end of 2026.
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This breakthrough aligns with growing public and industry demand for ethical shrimp farming, and it sets a powerful precedent for other retailers and producers to follow suit in prioritizing animal welfare and sustainable aquaculture practices.

We’re excited to welcome Robin Goist as SWP’s new Communications Lead! 

With over a decade of experience in journalism and public relations, Robin has led impactful media campaigns and secured top-tier placements to drive social change. 

A former reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, she later transitioned to advocacy, spearheading strategic PR efforts for international animal welfare nonprofits. Robin’s expertise in storytelling, media relations, and strategic outreach will be instrumental in amplifying SWP’s mission for humane aquaculture and sustainable shrimp farming on a global scale. 

We’re thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the transformative impact she will bring to our communications, partnerships, and advocacy efforts!

In the past month, we attended the following events: 

• EA Global Bay Area in Oakland, CA, United States (February 21 → February 23)

• AI for Animals in Berkeley, CA, United States (March  1 → March 2)

• Fish Veterinary Society in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (March 4 → March 5)

If you want to learn more about shrimp welfare and the shrimp farming industry:

• UK media outlets, including the Guardian and the Times, have all highlighted Waitrose’s new commitment to electrical stunning. Insights from SWP’s own Chief Programmes Officer—Krzysztof Wojtas—were also featured, emphasizing the industry’s growing recognition of shrimp welfare and the urgent need for humane slaughter practices.

• Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla—Chairman of the Board and co-founder of SWP—recently published an Asterisk magazine article, “Yes, Shrimp Matter,” which reveals the overwhelming scale of shrimp farming, highlights their capacity for suffering, and underscores how SWP is championing innovative solutions to improve shrimp welfare worldwide.

• The UK is showcasing ways to improve practices and consumer trust, specifically on Responsible Seafood Advocacy.

Job opportunities in aquatic animals:

• Scientific Coordinator, Aquatic Animal Health - World Organization for Animal Health

• Aquatic Animals Project Officer - Eurogroup for Animals

• Director of Operations - Fish Welfare Initiative

• Director of Programs - Fish Welfare Initiative

• Senior Researcher in the Animal Welfare Department - Rethink Priorities