November Spotlight: New Horizons

Greetings from Shrimp Welfare Project!

It’s not even the new year yet but we’re still proud to unveil some new and exciting announcements, including a new MOU and a new SWP website, which was recently redesigned to capture the essence of our mission with eye-catching visuals, an intuitive layout, and detailed highlights of our initiatives. Additionally, SWP gathered in Ho Chi Minh City for our annual Shrimp-Posium retreat from October 14–18 for strategic planning, visiting a shrimp farm, and enjoying each other’s company.

Finally, as I transition to a full-time Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) role within SWP, we’re excited to continue to expand our global reach with the following opening on our team: Communications Lead.
This role will build on the foundation of our current communications work, dedicated to amplifying SWP, shaping the narrative around our mission, and designing dynamic multi-channel strategies to share the SWP story and relevant accomplishments with professionals, funders, and advocates worldwide. This role will work closely with our Corporate Engagement team and forge key relationships with media outlets and partners, all while playing a pivotal part in advancing shrimp welfare on a global stage.
Applications are now open until January 10, 2025.

Have a great week!

Léa | SWP Communications Lead

SWP gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for our highly anticipated, annual Shrimp-Posium retreat! From October 14–18, our global team came together to strategise and shape the future of shrimp welfare, strengthening our mission and relationships in the process. A highlight of the event was our visit to Taika’s shrimp farm, where we saw their operations firsthand, including Optimar’s innovative electrical stunning technology, a significant advancement in humane shrimp farming. This retreat not only solidified our strategic vision but also deepened our team bonds, leaving us more motivated than ever to advance our global initiatives and create a more compassionate world for shrimps.

SWP’s team visiting a shrimp farm during Shrimp-Posium 2024

Recently, we had the honour and privilege of debuting our brand new SWP website, designed to make learning about shrimp welfare more engaging and accessible than ever before! This revamp, brought to life by the talented team at Violet Studios, beautifully aligns with our mission. From eye-catching visuals to a more intuitive layout, every aspect of the redesign was carefully crafted to enhance user experience and highlight our impactful work, including initiatives like the Sustainable Shrimp Farmers of India (SSFI). Special thanks to James Odene from User-Friendly for invaluable feedback on our content. Visit the new website today to explore our vision for a more compassionate and sustainable future in shrimp farming.

We're thrilled to announce the latest partnership with Nha Trang Seafoods and Seafood Connection as they officially join the Humane Slaughter Initiative.

Nha Trang Seafoods is renowned for their high-quality standards and commitment to sustainability, and will, among other things, implement Optimar's advanced electrical stunning technology to minimise suffering and enhance the ethical treatment of shrimps throughout their production process. Seafood Connection, a global player in sustainable seafood, will further amplify these efforts by connecting ethically farmed shrimps to international markets, ensuring consumers have access to responsibly sourced products.

In the past month, we have had the pleasure of attending the following events: 

• Asia Farm Animal Day in Hanoi, Vietnam (October 9 → October 11)

• EA Global in Boston, United States (November 1 → November 3)

• EAGxVirtual (November 15 → November 17)

  • SWP team members, Lien-Huong and Sri Rang, shared insights on enhancing the welfare of farmed shrimps through corporate and farmer engagement, including lessons learnt, what works well, what didn’t, and the way forward.

SWP’s team at Asia Farm Animal Day in Hanoi, Vietnam

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

• For the second year in a row, Animal Charity Evaluators has recommended SWP as one of their 2024 recommended charities!

• Compassion in World Farming highlighted two SWP collaborators with Special Recognition Awards, including Albert Heijn for their “work to establish a collaborative supply chain to improve shrimp welfare… working with the [SWP] to reduce stocking densities and introduce electrical stunning protocols with its suppliers” and M&S “to develop a shrimp welfare monitoring protocol… [which] not only aims to enhance shrimp welfare but also supports scientific research to address knowledge gaps and drive progress.”

• How to Grow the Shrimp Advocacy Movement with Hannah McKay, Animal Welfare Research Analyst at Rethink Priorities.

• Jonathan Birch’s book, The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI, is now available open access online.

• Bob Fischer’s edited volume, Weighing Animal Welfare: Comparing Well-Being Across Species is now available open access online. 

• Chiawen Chiang and Becca Franks’ article, Disaggregating animal welfare risks in aquaculture, is now available open access online

Job opportunities in aquatic animals:

• Communications Lead - Shrimp Welfare Project

• China Program Director - Fish Welfare Initiative

• Program Associate - Fish Welfare Initiative

• Volunteer - Crustacean Compassion