Indicator 4.2.1.8.3

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System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

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Indicator 4.2.1.8.3

by Contact on 8 October 2026

Table 1. Requirements for Indicator 4.2.1.8.3

Indicator

Requirement

4.2.1.8.3

Indicator applicability: every UoC using feed The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a monitoring process for behavioural scoring on live crustaceans from feeding trays or similar structures. Monitoring shall be conducted daily. 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?

  • To meet the ASC methodology for behaviour, only feeding behaviour needs to be monitored (see example in Table 13). However, other behaviours may also be considered. Further time is needed to develop quality behavioural analyses, which, while valuable for welfare and system management, must be tailored to the species, farming systems and available resources.

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

  • Table 13 below gives examples that may be considered acceptable as a reference to develop and implement feeding behaviour scoring.

Table 13: Description of acceptable, warning levels and unacceptable behaviour of shrimp during feeding adapted from Pedrazzani, et al (2023). “Non-Invasive Methods for Assessing the Welfare of Farmed White-Leg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)”

Acceptable Warning levels Unacceptable

Feeding behaviour Most shrimp react quickly by moving to the newly-offered food Only some of the shrimp react to the newly-offered food Most shrimp do not react to the newly-offered food

Feed consumption efficiency Tray is consistently emptied during feeding time Partial feed remains (<20% uneaten) Significant feed remains (>20% uneaten)

Interaction with feeding environment Shrimp feed calmly without aggression or erratic movement Occasional signs of stress or avoidance behaviour Persistent signs of stress or aggression

Evidence of Implementation

  • The feeding behaviour scoring monitoring process which incorporates the minimum elements required is included in the HWMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the feeding behaviour scoring.

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

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The behavioural scoring monitoring process is included in the HWMP.

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

Useful Resources

  • Darodes de Tailly, J.B., Keitel, J., Owen, M.A.G., Alcaraz-Calero, J.M., Alexander, M.E. & Sloman, K.A. (2021) Monitoring methods of feeding behaviour to answer key questions in penaeid shrimp feeding. Reviews In Aquaculture.

  • Li D, Liu C, Song Z, Wang G. (2021) Automatic Monitoring of Relevant Behaviors for Crustacean Production in Aquaculture: A Review. Animals (Basel).

  • Barrento, S., Pedrazzani, A., Ostrensky, A., & Quintiliano, M. (2023). Shrimp Welfare Indicators [Online course]. In S. Barrento, M. Quintiliano, & J. Muirhead (Eds.), FAI Academy. https://fai.academy/