Dundee, Scotland-based aquaculture tech company Ace Aquatec and U.K.-based nonprofit Shrimp Welfare Project have teamed up to offer a new humane stunning option for shrimp aquaculture operations.
“Shrimp producers globally have been calling for a versatile, easy-to-deploy system which can simultaneously make the harvesting process more sustainable and efficient, while also improving quality and streamlining logistics,” Ace Aquatic Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Tara McGregor-Woodhams said. “Working closely with the industry to further understand their needs, we have created a unique product that can be used both in factories and pond-side, and
Ace Aquatec’s new A-HSU for shrimp is a small, portable system for humanely stunning shrimp prior to slaughter. The tool is comprised of an entrance chute, stun tube, de-waterer, water collection tank, pump, power unit, and wall- or pond-mountable touch screen control system. Capable of processing eight tons of shrimp an hour, the unit is designed to withstand robust biosecurity measures and can stun shrimp in less than a second, reducing handling stress.
“We expect to see it enhance operations for shrimp farmers, both in Thailand and at further installation sites in the future,” McGregor-Woodhams said.
Thailand-based Sea Farms was the first aquaculture operation to install the A-HSU stunning system in partnership with the Shrimp Welfare Project through a project aimed at enhancing access to humane stunning for shrimp producers globally.
“Our partnership with Ace Aquatec is part of our broader mission to support shrimp farmers in adopting humane harvesting methods,” Shrimp Welfare Project Chief Programs Officer Krzysztof Wojtas said. “By introducing technology like this stunning system, we are helping producers not only improve shrimp welfare but also streamline their operations in ways that can benefit the entire industry."
