Indicator 4.2.1.8.2

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System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 4.2.1.8.2

by Contact on 8 October 2026

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.2.1.8.2

Indicator

Requirement

4.2.1.8.2

Indicator applicability: every UoC using feed The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a morphological scoring monitoring process for live crustaceans. Monitoring shall be conducted at least once a week, and shall include at least the following scoring parameters: – exoskeleton damage, including at least eyes, antennas, appendages and rostrum; – hepatopancreas colouration and size; – gill colouration; – size dispersion/variation; – shell blisters and necrosis; – full/empty digestive tube and colouration; – loss of appendages, categorised according to causes. An exception applies where deviation from monitoring frequency is justified by any of the following reasons: – immediately after stocking; or – under environmental conditions that affect the welfare of the crustaceans or the health and safety of employees; or – crustaceans are undergoing a disease event and/or being treated. The reason for any deviation shall be recorded.


How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Morphological scoring is frequently used as an immediate indicator of welfare.

  • However, changes in morphology may have a variety of causes and therefore must be further analysed before drawing conclusions.

  • Loss of appendages shall be segregated according to potential causes e.g. bacterial infection or cannibalism.

  • Table 12 below gives examples that may be considered acceptable as a reference to develop and implement morphological scoring.

Table 12: Morphological parameters showing acceptable, warning level and unacceptable levels for shrimp based on Pedrazzani, Ana Silvia, Nathieli Cozer, Murilo Henrique Quintiliano, Camila Prestes dos Santos Tavares, Ubiratã de Assis Teixeira da Silva, and Antonio Ostrensky. 2023. “Non-Invasive Methods for Assessing the Welfare of Farmed White-Leg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)” and the FAI course.

| Morphological Parameter | | Acceptable | Warning levels | Unacceptable |

| Exoskeleton damage | Eyes | Healthy | Damage, lightening, softening or swelling in one eye | Damage, lightening, softening or swelling in both eyes |

| | | | | |

| | | no damage | | Absence of one or two eyes |

| | Antennas | Healthy | Shortening, darkening or lesions/ necrosis | Absence, blueness, wrinkling, many dark spots |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | |

| | Rostrum | Healthy appearance | Mild injury, erosion or necrosis | Severe injury, erosion, necrosis or deformity |

| | | | | |

| | | No changes | | Absence |

| | Appendages | Healthy | One or two damaged legs/ Severe absence | Damage, necrosis, deformity |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | Abnormal colour |

| | | | | |

| | | | | Severe absence |

| | | | | |

| | | | | Darkened edges |

| Loss of appendages | Bacterial infection | Intact | Evidence of bacterial infection | Significant damage |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | |

| | Cannibalism | Intact | Some damage | Missing appendages |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | |

| Hepatopancreas colouration and size | | Healthy | Discrete volume reduction | Decrease in size, colour change, tearing, presence of fluid or wormlike structures |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | |

| Gill colouration | | Healthy | Some lesions or darkening | Colour change- pale, yellowish, redness or darkening |

| | | | | |

| | | No damage | | Whiteish spots |

| | | | | |

| | | | | Erosion |

| Size dispersion/variation | | Low | Some | Significant |

| Shell blisters and necrosis | | Healthy | Slight lesions, darkening or debris | Tissue loss, necrosis, colour change, deformity, calcified round white patches, crusting |

| | | | | |

| | | no damage | | |

| Full/empty digestive tube and colouration | | Full | Partially full | Empty |

Evidence of Implementation

  • The morphological scoring monitoring process, that incorporates the minimum elements required, included in the HWMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the morphological scoring.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established morphological scoring monitoring process.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The morphological monitoring process included in the HWMP incorporates the minimum required elements and is implemented.

    • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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