From Suffering to Stunning: The Push for Prawn Welfare in British Supermarkets

In a significant step forward for animal welfare, Waitrose, one of Britain’s leading supermarkets, has pledged to end the inhumane slaughter of king prawns across its supply chain by the end of 2026. This decision comes in response to growing pressure from animal rights campaigners who argue that prawns, like crabs and lobsters, are sentient creatures capable of experiencing pain and distress. The move marks a turning point in treating these often-overlooked animals, raising questions about how society balances convenience with compassion.

For years, the farming of prawns has relied on methods that campaigners describe as troubling. One such practice, eyestalk ablation, involves removing the eyes of female prawns to boost egg production. Another common technique sees prawns killed by submerging in icy water, a process intended to cause instant death through thermal shock. However, evidence suggests that many prawns endure a slow and painful suffocation instead. Advocates for change, including the Shrimp Welfare Project, estimate that 440 billion prawns are farmed globally each year—far surpassing the number of land animals raised for food—making the scale of this suffering challenging to ignore.

Waitrose has already taken steps to address these concerns. The supermarket has eliminated eyestalk ablation from its supply chain. It will now introduce electrical stunning—a method recognised as a more humane way to kill prawns—across all its farmed prawn suppliers. A spokesperson for the company emphasised that animal welfare remains a core priority, stating, “We’ve been working with our suppliers since 2023 to trial this approach, and we’re committed to rolling it out fully by next year.” This shift aligns with a broader trend among British retailers, with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Ocado also pledging to adopt similar standards.

The impetus for this change stems partly from a landmark decision by the UK government in 2022 when legislation officially recognised decapod crustaceans—such as prawns, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters—as sentient beings. This legal acknowledgement has fuelled calls for reform, challenging the long-held assumption that these creatures are unaffected by their treatment. The International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW) has welcomed Waitrose’s commitment but urges other supermarkets, including Aldi, Asda, and Morrisons, to follow suit. Chrys Liptrot, ICAW’s chief executive, described the move as “a promising step towards basic welfare standards,” adding that the organisation intends to hold all UK and European retailers accountable.

The stakes are high. Prawns are a staple of British diets, gracing everything from sandwiches to barbecue skewers, with the UK importing £570 million annually from countries like Vietnam, India, and Ecuador. Globally, the shrimp and prawn market is valued at over £30 billion, driven by demand for healthy, protein-rich foods. Yet, as consumers enjoy these delicacies, few may realise the journey these animals undertake—or the suffering that often accompanies it. Campaigners argue that greater awareness could shift public willingness to support kinder practices, even if it means paying a little more.

The Shrimp Welfare Project, a UK-based charity, is working to make this transition easier by supplying electrical stunners to producers at little or no cost. Krzysztof Wojtas, the charity’s chief programmes officer, posed a simple yet profound question: “We have welfare policies for other farmed species, so why not for shrimp?” Research, including a 2021 review by the London School of Economics, supports the view that prawns possess the anatomical capacity to feel pain. However, experts agree more studies are needed to understand their sentience fully.

Waitrose’s initiative raises broader ethical considerations. If prawns can suffer, what responsibility do retailers and consumers bear for their treatment? Other nations have already acted. For instance, Switzerland banned the live boiling of lobsters in 2018, requiring them to be stunned first. Similar legislation may soon follow in the UK, potentially reshaping how crustaceans are handled across the food industry.

For now, Waitrose’s pledge offers a glimpse of progress. As the deadline approaches, the spotlight will undoubtedly turn to other retailers—and to the millions of shoppers who, knowingly or not, hold the power to demand a more humane future for the creatures that end up on their plates.