Hilton to end eye stalk ablation in farmed shrimp
UK based Hilton Seafoods has adopted a new crustacean welfare policy which includes stopping the practice of eye stalk ablation within two years.
Eye stalk ablation is a common practice in shrimp farming and involves cutting the eye stalks of farmed mother shrimp to improve reproduction.
Hilton Seafood, which employs several hundred people at its Grimsby sites and is a leading supplier to Tesco among others, said the new policy was created with strong support from the international organisation Aquatic Life Institute.
Earlier this month, Tesco itself published a decapod crustacean welfare policy, also developed with the Aquatic Life Institute.
The Institute said the move indicated an important shift toward crustacean welfare considerations in the seafood sector and should create a ripple effect within the industry.
Teresa Fernandez, aquaculture specialist at Hilton Seafood UK, said: “We are pleased to have the support of Aquatic Life Institute for our work on animal welfare.
“Their assistance in shaping this policy underpins our shared commitment to promoting responsibility across this area.”
Welfare policy
Hilton said the move builds on its existing animal welfare policy which outlines a number of key objectives for various animal species.
The key aspects of the new crustacean welfare policy include a commitment to ending eye-stalk ablation in UK supply chains by 2026 and a guarantee of 100% stunning of farmed crustaceans before slaughter, using either electrical or thermal methods, as well as for wild crabs and lobsters.
The initiative will also explore environmental enrichments to enhance the rearing conditions for crustaceans, including appropriate stocking densities on farms, along with a pledge to source farmed crustaceans from independently certified farms, with accepted certifications.
Tesco’s welfare policy for crustaceans sets out, among other targets:
Tesco will not sell any live decapod crustaceans in stores and online.
By 2026, 100% of the farmed Penaeus vannamei shrimp will be electrically stunned. Tesco affirms that it is exploring the practicalities of implementing this across P. Monodon supply chains with suppliers.
100% of the suppliers will comply with recognised farm assurance schemes (certifiers), such as ASC, Global GAP or BAP 4.
100% of the suppliers will achieve a Forage Fish/Oil Dependency Ratio of <1 by 2030.
100% of shrimp broodstock used to produce the post-larvae (PL) for Tesco will be ablation free by 2026 (Penaeus Vannamei) or 2027 (Penaeus Monodon).
Setting an example
Sophika Kostyniuk, managing director of the Aquatic Life Institute, said: “As a global leader in the food industry, Hilton Food sets a strong example for how to prioritise welfare during the farming, transport, and slaughter of crustaceans in their crustacean policy statement.
“By expanding their own definition of sustainability to include welfare, Hilton Foods is demonstrating that the animals themselves must be granted specific considerations – a notion that is beginning to gain traction around the world.”
Regarding Tesco, she said: “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 towards recognizing the sentience of these animals. This policy will no doubt ignite a positive ripple effect across the retail world.”
Ben Lambden, Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture Manager at Tesco, said: “Tesco is committed to continuous improvement in animal welfare within the markets and supply chains we operate in. As well as our market leading ‘Tesco Welfare Approved’ audit programme, we wanted to go further in stipulating our minimum welfare requirements for farmed decapods. It is our hope that in doing so, we can play our part in the continued improvement and development of these crucial supply chains. We couldn’t have achieved this without the continued support from partners such as Aquatic Life Institute amongst others and our key supplier partners.”
