FAI has announced the launch of the Shrimp Hub, a new online resource designed to help shrimp supply chain professionals place welfare at the centre of their operations while improving business performance.
The launch comes as awareness of shrimp welfare grows across an industry producing around six million tonnes of farmed shrimp annually.
“Welfare is no longer just an ethical consideration but a core pillar of modern production systems,” said Dr Sara Barrento, FAI e-learning and aquaculture program manager. “Healthy shrimp grow faster, survive better and need fewer costly interventions, making welfare a driver of cost-effective productivity.”
A key feature of the Shrimp Hub is its broad approach to training, enabling companies to move beyond individual self-enrolment to upskilling entire teams. This structure also provides a pathway to formal endorsement, helping businesses demonstrate measurable progress in shrimp welfare.
“More and more major aquaculture certification schemes are now including animal welfare standards, so the Shrimp Hub has an important role in helping shrimp-producing companies prepare for certification and recognition of their commitment to shrimp welfare,” Barrento said.
To support this, FAI is introducing two ‘welfare badges’ through the Hub. The Shrimp Welfare-trained Badge is awarded on completion of the newly developed Shrimp Welfare Trained: Foundation Course, aimed at producers, processors and retailers seeking a practical introduction to shrimp welfare.
The second level – the Welfare-assessed Badge – is available to companies that also conduct weekly welfare assessments on at least 10% of ponds and collect reliable data to support better decision-making and transparency.
FAI is also marking the launch by releasing its Shrimp Welfare Indicators course in Indonesian, expanding a portfolio that already includes Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.
