UK – UK supermarket giant Tesco has introduced a comprehensive decapod crustacean welfare policy in response to increasing consumer calls for better treatment of animals across the food supply chain.
The policy, developed with support from the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI), aims to address welfare concerns for farmed decapod crustaceans, such as shrimp and crabs.
Key commitments include the cessation of live decapod crustacean sales both online and in stores. Additionally, Tesco has set a target to electrically stun 100% of its farmed Penaeus vannamei shrimp by 2026.
The retailer is also exploring the feasibility of extending this practice to its black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) supply chains.
Industry collaboration and support
Ben Lambden, Tesco’s Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Manager, emphasized the retailer’s dedication to improving animal welfare standards.
“We are committed to continuous improvement in animal welfare within our markets and supply chains,” said Lambden. “As well as our market-leading ‘Tesco Welfare Approved’ audit program, we wanted to further stipulate our minimum welfare requirements for farmed decapods. We hope that in doing so, we can play our part in the continued improvement and development of these crucial supply chains.”
Tesco’s policy has garnered support from its supplier partners, all of whom are required to comply with recognized farm assurance schemes such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Global GAP, or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) 4.
The retailer has also committed to achieving a Forage Fish/Oil Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of less than one by 2030, aligning with sustainability goals.
Specific targets for shrimp welfare
As part of its commitment to improving welfare standards, Tesco aims to ensure that all shrimp broodfish used to produce post-larvae for its supply chain will be 100% ablation-free by 2026 for Penaeus vannamei and by 2027 for Penaeus monodon.
Ablation, the removal of one or both eyestalks in shrimp, is a common practice in aquaculture to induce spawning but raises significant welfare concerns.
The policy is part of ALI’s Corporate Initiative, launched in 2023, which supports large-scale buyers in adopting higher welfare standards in their procurement processes.
Tesco’s move has been followed by other major UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, which are also making strides toward animal cruelty-free supply chains.
“Tesco’s public commitment to ensuring high welfare throughout the lifecycle (farming to slaughter) of farmed decapod crustaceans in their supply chain is a bold and significant step toward recognizing the sentience of these animals,” Sophika Kostyniuk, Managing Director of ALI, praised Tesco’s leadership on the issue.
“This policy will no doubt ignite a positive ripple effect across the retail world, and we applaud Tesco’s leadership on this matter.”
Global trends in animal welfare
Tesco’s announcement comes amid growing global efforts to enhance animal welfare practices. In 2022, the UK government passed the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, recognizing the sentience of all vertebrate animals. The legislation underlines the importance of considering animal welfare in policy-making.
Similarly, Seafish, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, and the Crab and Lobster Management Group recently released best practice guidelines for handling, storing, and dispatching live shellfish across the supply chain. These efforts aim to ensure higher welfare standards from the point of capture to food service.
Across the Atlantic, the United States is on the brink of passing a federal bill to ban commercial octopus farming and imports, a move driven by public concerns over the ethical, environmental, and health implications of the practice.
ALI supports the bill, viewing it as a potential watershed moment for animal welfare policy in the US.
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