Week 2: Relative Sentience & Decapod Crustaceans
“For decades, animal advocates have worked to advocate for farmed animals. But what if one of the most — if not the most — numerous farmed species on the planet has been overlooked?
- ”Hannah McKay, shrimp welfare researcher & advocate
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Three Numbers That Make The Case For Shrimp Welfare - Faunalytics (10 minutes)
Offers an overview of the state of shrimp farming and the case for prioritizing shrimp welfare.
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Shrimp Welfare in Wild-Caught Fisheries (10 minutes)
Farmed shrimp are only a portion of the picture. This reading discusses the welfare implications of wild-caught shrimp.
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Are Shrimps Sentient? (15 minutes)
Explains the evidence for sentience in shrimps, as well as some general principles to consider when assessing the relative sentience of animal groups.
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Further Readings
Prioritizing animals of uncertain sentience - Rethink Priorities
The Case for the Legal Protection of Decapod Crustaceans (Excerpted) | Crustacean Compassion .pdf
This ~15 minute excerpt outlines the scientific case for protecting decapod crustaceans under UK law, highlights welfare issues in the food industry, compares international protections, and proposes humane solutions for slaughter and handling. (Full original document here).
