Non-Invasive Methods for Assessing the Welfare of Farmed White-Leg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

Abstract

Gradually, concern for the welfare of aquatic invertebrates produced on a commercial/industrial scale is crossing the boundaries of science and becoming a demand of other societal actors. The objective of this paper is to propose protocols for assessing the Penaeus vannamei welfare during the stages of reproduction, larval rearing, transport, and growing-out in earthen ponds and to discuss, based on a literature review, the processes and perspectives associated with the development and application of on-farm shrimp welfare protocols. Protocols were developed based on four of the five domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, health, and behaviour. The indicators related to the psychology domain were not considered a separate category, and the other proposed indicators indirectly assessed this domain. For each indicator, the corresponding reference values were defined based on literature and field experience, apart from the three possible scores related to animal experience on a continuum from positive (score 1) to very negative (score 3). It is very likely that non-invasive methods for measuring the farmed shrimp welfare, such as those proposed here, will become a standard tool for farms and laboratories and that it will become increasingly challenging to produce shrimp without considering their welfare throughout the production cycle.

From egg to slaughter: monitoring the welfare of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, throughout their entire life cycle in aquaculture

“…The current paradigm regarding the welfare of farmed fish suggests that the evaluation parameters used should be specific to each species, considering the animals' developmental stage and the system in which they are raised. These parameters should also encompass indicators that address the fish's physical, nutritional, environmental, and behavioral aspects ( 13 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 87 , 119 , 122 ). However, the understanding and investigation of the psychological dimensions, although constituting one of the animal freedoms, represent a field of scientific knowledge still in its early and nascent stages, especially when compared to the progress achieved regarding animals involved in terrestrial agriculture.…”

“…When we originally proposed the method and indices that our group has already applied to assess the degree of welfare in grass carp and white-leg shrimp ( 25 , 26 ), we emphasized that the indicators, their reference values, scores, and weights would need to be periodically reviewed and updated as scientific knowledge advances on the subject. In this article, we put this concept into practice by applying our metrics to assess the welfare of tilapia not only during the grow-out phase but throughout all life stages, whilst also revising and advancing the knowledge generated previously.…”

“…In this study, PWIs and GWIs follow the same conceptual and mathematical logic applied and extensively discussed concerning grass carp ( 25 ) and white-leg shrimp ( 26 ). However, the indicators and their respective reference values, scores, and weights are specific to O. niloticus , covering aspects of breeding, larviculture, fingerling rearing, and the grow-out phase—in this case, in earthen ponds.…”

“…The fifth freedom, psychological, is intrinsically evaluated through the behavioral and physical analysis of the animals. The methodology employed followed the same principles already used in the creation of the protocols previously developed by our group for O. niloticus ( 23 ) and grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella ( 25 ), during the grow-out phase of both and also for white-leg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei throughout its entire production cycle ( 26 ).…”

Revolutionizing Maritime Trade: Unveiling The Innovative Sea Toll Framework Through Advanced Livestock Folding Container Ship Science Mapping

“…These specialized vessels feature modular containers that can be adjusted to accommodate various animal species and sizes, ensuring optimal conditions throughout the voyage. LFCS also incorporate advanced ventilation, feeding, and waste management systems to safeguard the health and well-being of livestock while minimizing environmental impact (Pedrazzani et al, 2023). Science Mapping refers to the systematic analysis and visualization of scientific knowledge within a specific field or domain.…”