Humane Slaughter Pilot Agreement
Shrimp Welfare Project (SWP) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Honduran-based company Grupo Granjas Marinas (GGM) and the U.K.-based company Sea Farms Limited (Sea Farms) on an ambitious humane slaughter pilot agreement.
Through this partnership, GGM and Sea Farms have pledged to improve their shrimp harvesting practices, demonstrating their dedication to embrace more humane and sustainable practices that pave the way for improved welfare standards across the industry. GGM will implement electrical stunning for a portion of their shrimp production, leading to at least 1,800 metric tonnes of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp being stunned annually (i.e., an average of 125 million shrimps per year). Sea Farms has expressed clear expectations for prioritising electrically stunned shrimps to meet heightened market demands for more humane methods.
The success of this pilot project hinges on several key factors, including quality, occupational safety for harvest personnel, practicality, and cost-effectiveness. With these factors in mind, GGM and Sea Farms aim to assess the feasibility and viability of electric stunning as a long-term solution for shrimp harvesting. Should the pilot be successful, there is a strong possibility that the slaughter method will be expanded to all of GGM’s production.
As part of the pilot, GGM and Sea Farms will utilise state-of-the-art electrical stunners provided by SWP from Optimar, a world leader in seafood processing technology. SWP will also support training, auditing, and developing comprehensive welfare practices across their operations. In return, other parties will be granted visibility into GGM’s stunning processes and detailed records will be maintained.
This partnership with GGM and Sea Farms represents a vital step toward widespread adoption of electrical stunning - the most humane slaughter method currently available for crustaceans. Safeguarding shrimp welfare is crucial for enhancing sustainability, reducing disease, minimising environmental impacts, and moving towards a more ethical shrimp farming industry. This multi-stakeholder commitment ensures robust monitoring of water quality, health, nutrition, and humane stunning aligning with the highest global standards.
SWP remains thrilled to collaborate with industry leaders elevating shrimp welfare while meeting consumer demands through pioneering initiatives that harmonise ethical practices with commercial viability.
