Following the legal recognition of decapod crustacean sentience in UK law in April 2022, it became evident that little was known about existing welfare standards in the food supply chain.  

One year on from the inaugural benchmark report, The Snapshot 2023 reveals how major retailers and seafood companies have performed on decapod crustacean welfare standards. The first benchmark project of its kind, the report assesses a broad cross-section of UK seafood companies, including major retailers, processors, producers and wholesalers. 

The Snapshot 2023 findings

By objectively assessing leading seafood producers, processors and retailers on their management practices, The Snapshot captures the current state of decapod crustacean welfare across the industry.  

Findings from The Snapshot 2023 report paint a mixed picture of the industry’s progress between 2022 and 2023. Acknowledgment of decapod welfare as an important business issue has advanced significantly, with the number of companies publishing policies on key areas of decapod welfare – capture methods, mutilations, holding and transport conditions – at least doubling since 2022.  

Despite this encouraging progress, 13 companies (43%) still have no formal welfare policies. In fact, more than half of the 30 companies assessed scored less than 20%, including major retailers including Iceland, Lidl, Ocado and ASDA.  

What’s next for The Snapshot? 

The Snapshot: Industry Benchmark on Decapod Crustacean Welfare will be repeated on a regular basis to equip consumers and other stakeholders with the information they need to make informed choices, but also to help food companies understand and adapt to welfare expectations. 

Companies looking to improve decapod welfare standards in their supply chain will find a wealth of helpful information and resources here on the Crustacean Industry Welfare Hub (CIWH). This free, members-only platform is designed specifically for people working in the seafood industry and related fields interested in evaluating their own decapod welfare policies, identifying areas for improvement, and communicating progress to their key stakeholders.