Shrimp Welfare Project
Shrimp Welfare Project is a UK-registered nonprofit charity founded in 2021 that is the first organization globally exclusively focused on farmed shrimp welfare. It provides electrical stunners and technical guidance to aquaculture producers and engages seafood retailers to advance humane slaughter and eyestalk ablation-free practices worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Shrimp Welfare Project does
Shrimp Welfare Project is a UK-registered nonprofit charity (Charity Number: 1204414) founded in 2021 by Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla and Aaron, operating as the first organization globally exclusively focused on improving the welfare of farmed shrimps. The company targets a large but historically underserved animal welfare category, with approximately 440 billion shrimps farmed annually worldwide, more than five times the total number of all farmed land animals combined. Core interventions span the seafood value chain: corporate engagement with global producers, seafood suppliers, and retailers; the Humane Slaughter Initiative, which provides electrical stunners and technical guidance to aquaculture operations at minimal or no cost, with producers committing to stun a minimum of 1,900 metric tonnes annually; the Eyestalk Ablation-Free initiative; the Sustainable Shrimp Farming in India (SSFI) farmer outreach program; proprietary research including the Shrimp Welfare Report, India Scoping Report, Vietnam Scoping Report, and Consumer Attitudes Report; and outreach across shrimp industry, animal welfare, and Effective Altruism audiences.
The underlying technology is hardware-centric rather than software-centric. The Humane Slaughter Initiative deploys two industrial electrical stunning platforms through exclusive partnerships: Optimar (Norway), capable of up to 10 metric tons per hour in a mobile wet-environment unit (~500 kg), and Ace Aquatec (UK), whose U-Shaped Prawn Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU) handles up to 8 metric tons per hour with automated touchscreen controls and data logging. A 2025 partnership with Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (FIS), University of Stirling, and Marks & Spencer extends the technology into the world's first onboard stunning and tailing machine for Nephrops (scampi), broadening the species scope.
The business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. Known funding includes $300,000 from Open Philanthropy and $210,000 from the EA Animal Welfare Fund in 2023, plus individual donations through every.org (where $1 funds approximately 1,500 shrimps per year), Gift Aid, and a third-party merchandise store. Customer segments are non-traditional: producer partners (MER Seafood, Seajoy, Apex Frozen Foods, Taika, CAMIMEX, CP Vietnam, ThinkAqua, Gujarat Aquaculture Association), demand-side retailers and brands (Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Albert Heijn, Young's Seafood, Labeyrie Fine Foods, Westbridge Foods), and institutional funders (Open Philanthropy, EA Animal Welfare Fund, ACE Movement Grants). An internal team of approximately 10-12 specialists operates remotely across the UK, India, Vietnam, and other countries, with formal leadership including a Chief Programmes Officer (Krzysztof Wojtas), Operations Manager, Research and Policy Lead, Communications Lead, India and Vietnam Programme Coordinators, an Aquaculture Welfare Specialist, and an India Field Coordinator. The organization has been recognized as an Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) Recommended Charity for three consecutive years (2023-2025), the fastest-ever charity to receive this distinction, and was named a 2025 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards finalist by the Global Seafood Alliance.
Shrimp Welfare Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shrimp Welfare Project
- Legal name
- Shrimp Welfare Project
- Website
- https://shrimpwelfareproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shrimp Welfare Project is a UK-registered nonprofit charity founded in 2021 that is the first organization globally exclusively focused on farmed shrimp welfare. It provides electrical stunners and technical guidance to aquaculture producers and engages seafood retailers to advance humane slaughter and eyestalk ablation-free practices worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shrimp Welfare Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aquaculture Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (11251)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab) (AFAEAAAC)
Keywords
Where Shrimp Welfare Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shrimp Welfare Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters. Each $1 donated helps around 1,500 shrimps per year. UK donors can use Gift Aid through PayPal Giving Fund UK or CAF.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from Open Philanthropy ($300,000), EA Animal Welfare Fund ($210,000), and ACE Movement Grants for general support and program operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shrimp Welfare Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shrimp Welfare Project is a nonprofit that drives adoption of higher-welfare practices in the global shrimp farming industry by providing electrical stunner equipment and technical guidance to aquaculture producers through its Humane Slaughter Initiative, supporting eyestalk ablation elimination across supply chains, and engaging shrimp producers, seafood suppliers, and retailers through its Corporate Engagement Programme. It also runs farmer outreach in India via the Sustainable Shrimp Farming in India (SSFI) initiative and produces original research to shape understanding of shrimp welfare.
Product overview
Shrimp Welfare Project is a UK-registered nonprofit organization (Charity Number: 1204414) that guides the shrimp farming industry towards higher welfare practices. The organization operates several interconnected programmes: the Corporate Engagement Programme (encompassing the Humane Slaughter Initiative and Eyestalk Ablation-Free initiatives), the Sustainable Shrimp Farming in India (SSFI) farmer engagement programme, Research (producing reports including the Shrimp Welfare Report, India Scoping Report, and Consumer Attitudes Report), and Outreach activities. The Humane Slaughter Initiative provides electrical stunners (Optimar and Ace Aquatec) to aquaculture operations to improve slaughter welfare. The organization has been recognized as a Recommended Charity by Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) for three consecutive years (2023-2025) and by FarmKind.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corporate Engagement Programme A dedicated programme supporting the seafood industry in transitioning to more humane and higher welfare shrimp farming practices through collaboration with global producers, seafood suppliers, and retailers. Includes consultation, implementation strategies, and provision of free equipment and services.
- Humane Slaughter Initiative A programme providing electrical stunners (Optimar and Ace Aquatec equipment) and technical guidance to aquaculture operations at minimal or no cost to ensure shrimps experience minimal stress and pain during slaughter. Producers commit to stunning a minimum volume of shrimp annually.
- Eyestalk Ablation-Free Programme A programme recognizing producers who commit to using non-ablated broodstock and highlighting retailers and seafood suppliers that have implemented strict policies to eliminate eyestalk ablation across their supply chains.
- Sustainable Shrimp Farming in India (SSFI) An initiative promoting best welfare-focused management practices in shrimp farming in India, providing farmers with a forum to network, interact, and learn from experts and fellow farmers.
- Shrimp Welfare Project Merchandise Store
Quantifiable outcome
- ~$1 helps ~1,500 shrimps per year through donations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Shrimp Welfare Project
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shrimp Welfare Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Shrimp Welfare Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (FIS)minorLed the project for world's first onboard stunning and tailing machine for Nephrops (scampi). Shrimp Welfare Project is a supporter of this coalition.
- CAMIMEXcoreLeading Vietnamese producer receiving electrical stunner for humane slaughter. 21st MOU milestone bringing total expected impact to 4 billion shrimps annually.
- Apex Frozen FoodscoreIndian seafood producer receiving Optimar electrical stunner for humane slaughter. Partnership with Fisherman's Choice. 18th MOU overall, 2nd in India. Expected impact: 1,800 metric tonnes annually.
- Taika (by Sofina)coreVietnamese producer commits to humane slaughter with ban on eyestalk ablation for Young's. Shrimp Welfare Project provides Optimar electrical stunner. Affects 4,000+ metric tonnes annually (270 million shrimps).
- Seajoy CookecoreHonduran producer with commitments to limits on stocking densities, no eyestalk ablation, and humane slaughter. Facilitated by Labeyrie Fine Foods. Affects 6,000+ metric tonnes annually (400 million shrimps).
- MER SeafoodcoreHonduran producer committed to limits on stocking densities, maintaining water quality, no eyestalk ablation, and humane slaughter. Shrimp Welfare Project provides electrical stunning equipment from Optimar. Affects 1,500-2,300 tonnes annually.
- OptimarcoreNorwegian company developing electrical stunning technology for shrimp. Shrimp Welfare Project signed MoU to promote adoption of electrical stunning technology and provide stunners to producers.
- ThinkAquacoreCollaboration to support improvements in shrimp farming to increase welfare along supply chain. Initial focus on Indonesia, with exploration of collaboration in India and Vietnam. Covers all aspects from hatchery to harvest.
- Gujarat Aquaculture AssociationcoreIndia-based aquaculture association signing MoU for sustainable, higher-welfare shrimp production in Gujarat. One of seven MoUs signed at this event.
- Seafood ConnectioncoreNetherlands-based supplier committed to prioritizing purchase of stunned shrimps from partnered producers. Multiple MOUs signed (Nha Trang Seafoods, Taprobane, Mega Marine Pride, CAMIMEX).
- Ace AquateccoreProvider of U-Shaped Prawn Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU) capable of stunning up to 8 metric tons per hour. Shrimp Welfare Project partners to provide this equipment to producers.
- Fisherman's ChoicecoreNetherlands-based importer and supplier prioritizing purchase of stunned shrimps from Apex Frozen Foods. Affiliated with major quality standards.
- University of StirlingminorResearch partner in the Nephrops stunning and tailing machine project alongside FIS, retailers, and technology experts.
- Marks and SpencerminorUK retailer committed to electrical stunning in shrimp supply chains. Partner in Nephrops stunning project.
- Sainsbury'sminorUK retailer with public commitments to using electrical stunning in farmed shrimp supply chains.
- TescominorUK retailer with published commitments to keeping supply chain free from eyestalk ablation and using electrical stunning.
- WaitroseminorUK retailer (John Lewis Partnership) with published crustacean welfare policy including eyestalk ablation-free commitments.
- Young's Seafood (by Sofina)minorUK seafood brand sourcing from Taika with electrical stunning commitments.
- Labeyrie Fine FoodsminorFrench food company facilitating collaborations with Seajoy and Thuan Phuoc. One of Seajoy's largest customers supporting the partnership.
- Westbridge FoodsminorUK-based food company partnering with CP Vietnam through the Humane Slaughter Initiative.
- Albert HeijnminorDutch retailer with published shrimp welfare policy. Partnership with Cofimar and Klaas Puul.
- CrustaWohlminorResearch partnership on uncovering chronic stress in crustaceans.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shrimp Welfare Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Humane League: Major animal welfare NGO with a corporate engagement model similar to SWP's, working to reform factory farming practices. Operates at significantly larger scale and broader species scope but shares the advocacy and corporate accountability approach.
- Mercy For Animals: Global farmed animal welfare charity with a corporate engagement model targeting supply chain reforms. Operates with a similar nonprofit grant-funded model and corporate accountability approach, though focused on terrestrial farmed animals.
- Compassion in World Farming: Established international farmed animal welfare charity with broader species scope (terrestrial livestock and aquaculture). Comparable in organizational structure and corporate engagement approach but covers a wider portfolio of welfare issues.
- Animal Equality: International animal protection organization conducting corporate engagement and investigations of factory farming. Comparable in mission-driven charity model and corporate-facing welfare reform strategy, though not aquaculture-focused.
Others
- Global Seafood Alliance: Industry standards body operating the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification. Not a direct competitor but a complementary ecosystem participant whose welfare standards intersect with SWP's mission to elevate shrimp farming practices.
Direct peers
- Ace Aquatec: UK-based aquaculture technology company whose A-HSU humane stunner is deployed by SWP under the Humane Slaughter Initiative. Operates in the same aquatic animal welfare technology category and serves overlapping producer customers.
- Aquatic Life Institute: US-based nonprofit focused on improving the welfare of aquatic animals, including farmed fish and crustaceans. Shares SWP's mission of advancing humane practices in aquaculture and is the closest organizational peer in the aquatic animal welfare space.
- Optimar: Norwegian seafood processing equipment manufacturer with whom SWP signed an MoU to provide electrical stunning technology to producers. A direct operational peer in the humane slaughter equipment supply chain.
Emerging players
- Albert Schweitzer Foundation: European animal welfare charity with a focus on corporate accountability and reducing animal suffering through supply chain engagement. Comparable in style of corporate-focused intervention strategy and European operational footprint.
- Wild Animal Initiative: Effective altruism-adjacent nonprofit working on wild animal welfare. Comparable in EA-funder backing, evidence-based intervention design, and small-team operational model, though addresses a distinct welfare population.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shrimp Welfare Project social profiles
Digital presenceShrimp Welfare Project compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Shrimp Welfare Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shrimp Welfare Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Shrimp Welfare Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shrimp Welfare Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shrimp Welfare Project
What does Shrimp Welfare Project do?
Shrimp Welfare Project is a nonprofit that drives adoption of higher-welfare practices in the global shrimp farming industry by providing electrical stunner equipment and technical guidance to aquaculture producers through its Humane Slaughter Initiative, supporting eyestalk ablation elimination across supply chains, and engaging shrimp producers, seafood suppliers, and retailers through its Corporate Engagement Programme. It also runs farmer outreach in India via the Sustainable Shrimp Farming in India (SSFI) initiative and produces original research to shape understanding of shrimp welfare.
Is Shrimp Welfare Project a public or private company?
Shrimp Welfare Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shrimp Welfare Project founded?
Shrimp Welfare Project was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shrimp Welfare Project based?
Shrimp Welfare Project is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shrimp Welfare Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants.
Who are Shrimp Welfare Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Humane League, Mercy For Animals, Compassion in World Farming and Animal Equality. Global Seafood Alliance is listed as an others. Direct peers are Ace Aquatec, Aquatic Life Institute and Optimar. Emerging players are Albert Schweitzer Foundation and Wild Animal Initiative.
Does Shrimp Welfare Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shrimp Welfare Project.
What industry is Shrimp Welfare Project in?
Shrimp Welfare Project's product category is Aquaculture Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEALAC, Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of AFAEAAAC, Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab). Its NAICS code is 11251.