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Shifting Tides: Major Milestones in Shrimp Welfare
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Greetings from Shrimp Welfare Project! As summer slowly turns to fall for many of us, change is something we’re excited to share. Not only are we celebrating two newly signed MOUs that set new standards in shrimp welfare through commitments to the Humane Slaughter Initiative, but also retail giants like Tesco and Sainsbury's are making waves in the shrimp welfare movement. Tesco's latest Farmed Decapod Crustacean Welfare Policy outlines their commitment to 100% electrically stunned farmed shrimps by 2026, while Sainsbury's has committed to trialling electrical stunning for their shrimp supply chain with full rollout expected by the same year. These collaborations showcase an industry-wide shift towards more ethical aquaculture and shrimp farming practices. In addition to these milestones, we’re thrilled to announce that as part of our SSFI initiative, SWP has reached a significant achievement—completing sludge removal across 70 acres! Have a great week!
Léa | SWP Communications Lead
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Tesco Farmed Decapod & Crustacean Welfare Policy
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“The current policy is the result of this process and we recognise the valuable contributions from our suppliers, Crustacean Compassion, the Shrimp Welfare Project, Aquatic Life Institute and World Wildlife Fund in articulating our commitments for Farmed Decapod Crustaceans.”
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As part of their Tesco Welfare Approved (TWA) standards, Tesco has committed to ensuring that 100% of their farmed Penaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimps) will be electrically stunned by 2026—a significant move towards more humane and sustainable farming practices.
Additionally, Tesco is targeting 100% ablation-free broodstock in their supply chains by 2026 for Penaeus vannamei and 2027 for Penaeus monodon (tiger shrimps). Finally, Tesco prohibits the sale of live decapod crustaceans in stores and online, further reinforcing their dedication to improving decapod welfare.
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Sainsbury’s Commitment on Fish & Shellfish Welfare
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On August 28th, Sainsbury's announced a robust welfare policy covering both wild-caught and farmed aquatic animals, including decapod crustaceans like shrimps. As a long-time advocate for higher welfare standards, including going 100% ablation-free, Sainsbury’s is working closely with industry experts, including SWP, to ensure the humane treatment of marine life across their supply chain, which impacts 3.3 billion shrimps per year. According to this policy, Sainsbury’s has committed to the following:
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“In collaboration with [SWP] and our partner supplier, we are trialling electrical stunning with all our fresh and frozen shrimp farmers and collaborating with Stirling University to verify this method at which point we will roll out fully to all our source shrimp farms, estimated end of 2026.”
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This collaboration is an essential step towards improving the welfare of farmed shrimps.
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In a major step forward for shrimp welfare, Grupo Lamar, one of South America's leading shrimp producers, will adopt humane electrical stunning technology via Optimar and eliminate harmful practices like eyestalk ablation. Likewise, Labeyrie Fine Foods, a long-standing advocate for responsible food production, has agreed to prioritise stunned shrimps from Grupo Lamar. This partnership underscores their commitment to sustainable shrimp farming, combining responsible feeding practices and advanced health and disease management protocols. Read more here |
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And the Organisation of the Month Goes to…
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We’re excited to share that SWP was featured as the Farm Animal Coalition's (FAC) Organisation of the Month! This recognition highlights our unwavering commitment to improving shrimp welfare and sustainability in the global shrimp farming industry. In their feature, FAC dives into our pioneering efforts, including the Humane Slaughter Initiative, which provides electrical stunners to shrimp farms at little to no cost, and outreach initiatives like Sustainable Shrimp Farmers of India (SSFI) that further demonstrates our comprehensive approach to driving change in the industry. Additionally, FAC showcased SWP’s impact: helping around 2.3 billion shrimps each year in countries like Honduras, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.
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In the past month, we have had the pleasure of attending the following events: Additionally, we look forward to attending the upcoming events: Asia Farm Animal Day in Hanoi, Vietnam (October 9 → October 11) SWP team retreat (Shrimp-posium) in Vietnam (October 14 → October 18) EA Global in Boston, United States (November 1 → November 3)
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If you want to learn more about shrimp welfare and the shrimp farming industry: Job opportunities in aquatic animals:
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