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Welfare issues in shrimp farming: Eyestalk Ablation
Fish welfare issues include poor water quality, stocking density, and inhumane slaughter. Another issue is shrimp stock ablation, a practice where the eyes of female shrimp are cut off to increase egg production. However, research has shown that properly caring for female shrimp can achieve the same level of productivity without mutilation. In fact, the offspring of non-mutilated shrimp are more robust and resistant to environmental factors and pathogens. While the practice is being phased out in Latin America, more work is needed to eliminate it completely in Asia. European buyers are already demanding shrimp sourced from nurseries that do not use stock ablation.