Big news for aquatic animal welfare! UK retailer Co-op has made a groundbreaking commitment to eliminate two of the most harmful practices in shrimp farming. This milestone underscores the power of strategic advocacy and collaboration in transforming the food industry for the better.
✅ Ablation-Free Shrimp Supply Chain: Co-op has confirmed that 100% of the prawns in its supply chain are now free from eyestalk ablation, a painful and unnecessary procedure inflicted on female broodstock shrimp to induce egg production.
✅ Commitment to Humane Slaughter: Co-op will implement electrical stunning for all farmed prawns by 2027, ending the industry-standard practice of asphyxiation on ice—one of the cruellest forms of slaughter.
Co-op’s policy, created with support from Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) and other organizations, will impact an estimated 37,837,837* prawns annually. This decision follows in the footsteps of commitments from leading UK retailers such as M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, reinforcing the momentum toward industry-wide change.
Through the Corporate Initiative, ALI, works directly with corporations to integrate strong animal welfare policies into their supply chains. Our team provided Co-op with expert recommendations, technical resources
Why This Matters for the Movement
Every year, 630 billion farmed shrimp are slaughtered for consumption, with up to 2 million female broodstock shrimp subjected to eyestalk ablation. Nearly 50% of farmed shrimp die before reaching slaughter age due to poor welfare conditions.
Let’s keep up the momentum and push for even greater protections for aquatic animals!
*This calculation is a rough estimate using the average weight of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) at the time of harvest, and annual production volume reported by Co-op.
