Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla on the Shrimp Welfare Project (2022)

Organizational Background

• The Shrimp Welfare Project was founded in 2021 by Andres Jimenez-Sorria and co-founder Aaron via the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program.
• Jimenez-Sorria previously held senior finance roles at Morgan Stanley and the Qatar Sovereign Wealth Fund before pivoting to effective altruism in 2018.
• The organization focuses exclusively on two species: Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (king/tiger prawn).
• The team operates as a consultancy in Vietnam and India to navigate local regulations and maintain industry collaboration, rather than as a traditional NGO.

Scale of Industry and Sentience Evidence

• Global farmed shrimp production is estimated at 4.5 to 6 million tons, representing 300 to 400 billion individuals annually; wild-caught estimates reach tens of trillions.
• Current farming practices involve intensive systems with stocking densities of several hundred animals per cubic meter in plastic-lined tanks.
• Evidence for shrimp sentience includes the presence of nociceptors, protective behaviors, and significant behavioral changes when anesthetized (e.g., reduced antenna rubbing).
• A 2023 London School of Economics report commissioned by the UK government concluded that all decapods, including shrimp, should be protected under animal welfare law.
• Surveys indicate 95% of shrimp farmers acknowledge that their animals can feel pain and stress.

Key Welfare Challenges

• Eye Stalk Ablation: A common practice where a portion of the female shrimp's eye stalk is crushed to induce egg-laying; research suggests this practice is unnecessary for productivity if broodstock health is maintained.
• Stocking Density: Overcrowding forces systems beyond carrying capacity, leading to stress, compromised immune systems, and rapid spread of diseases like White Spot Syndrome and White Gut Syndrome.
• Slaughter Methods: Harvesting typically involves netting, removing animals from water (causing asphyxiation), and placing them in ice water slurry; this process is inconsistent and often fails to induce rapid unconsciousness.
• Alternative Slaughter: Electrical stunning is being explored by Compassion in World Farming but faces technical hurdles regarding water salinity and safety.

Strategic Interventions and Economic Arguments

• The organization prioritizes a "business case" approach, demonstrating to farmers that reducing stocking densities improves profit margins by lowering mortality rates and increasing average harvest size.
• Pilot programs in India and Vietnam aim to prove that lower densities and better water quality management are viable and economically superior to current intensive practices.
• Future goals include integrating welfare modules into existing certification schemes and exploring high-welfare certification for retailers.
• The team maintains a collaborative posture with the industry to avoid antagonism and facilitate rapid adoption of welfare improvements.

Future Outlook and Risks

• Rebound Effect: There is a recognized risk that improving farm efficiency and reducing costs could lower prices, leading to increased consumption that offsets welfare gains.
• Alternative Proteins: The uniformity of shrimp tissue makes it a prime target for cell-based agriculture and plant-based replication, which could radically reduce reliance on farming.
• Legislative Potential: Influencing import regulations in the US, EU, and UK could force global industry standards, though this is viewed as a longer-term strategy.
• Team Expansion: The organization is currently hiring an aquaculture specialist and an operations lead to support scaling in Vietnam and India.

Funding and Operations

• Initial funding was provided by the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program, with subsequent support from the EA Animal Welfare Fund and individual donors.
• The team is fully remote but plans for the CEO to relocate to Vietnam to better oversee local operations.
• The organization intends to keep its UK charity status while potentially spinning off for-profit consultancy arms to sell welfare-improvement services to farms.