Responsible Sourcing Summit: Animal Welfare
In response to growing calls from regulators, retailers, and NGOs across the UK and Europe, the shrimp industry is under increasing pressure to improve animal welfare standards—especially at the point of slaughter. But what does “humane slaughter” mean in the context of shrimp, and how can it be practically implemented?
This opening session of the Responsible Sourcing Summit puts the spotlight on one of the industry’s most urgent—and least understood—welfare challenges: ensuring shrimp lose consciousness in a way that prevents recovery prior to death. We begin with perspectives from a retailer and a producer actively working to improve slaughter practices. Lola Riverchon-Billot, animal behaviour specialist at Bankiva, will then share the latest findings from field trials comparing traditional ice stunning with new approaches involving electrical stunning.
The session continues with insights from two technology leaders—AceAqua and Optimar—who are at the forefront of introducing electrical stunning in shrimp production around the world. Drawing from real-world experience, they will highlight the opportunities, limitations, and operational realities of these technologies.
To conclude, a panel discussion featuring key stakeholders—including representatives from the Shrimp Welfare Project—will unpack the ethical, scientific, and commercial considerations involved, and chart a path forward for humane slaughter in the global shrimp industry.
(Photo courtesy of Aquaconnect.)
