There are many areas of environmental concern in tiger prawn aquaculture in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. This includes the use of illegal chemicals, including antibiotics, salinisation of soil and freshwater, direct discharges into the environment, and the use of wild caught juveniles. Supplementary feed is used in semi-intensive and improved extensive systems, however, there is little transparency of the ingredients used and no requirements for responsible feed sourcing. It’s also not known if there are any welfare regulations in place and management for the aquaculture sector in India, Vietnam and Indonesia is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.Rating last updated January 2025.

There are negative environmental impacts of prawn farming including the destruction of mangrove habitats and the salinisation of soil and freshwater. There are also a lack of welfare and humane slaughter measures in place. However, tiger prawns produced in extensive ponds require few inputs, such as feed or chemicals, use hatchery reared juveniles and may actively remove nutrients from the environment. Management and regulation for the aquaculture sector in Bangladesh is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.Rating last updated January 2025.

This rating is for tiger prawns produced in extensive pond systems in Kalimantan for the Happy Prawn Company. Tiger prawns produced in extensive ponds require no feed inputs. There are many negative environmental impacts of prawn farming but many of these are mitigated or minimised by the Happy Prawn Co. producers, including the use of chemicals and destruction of mangroves. However, some negative environmental impacts remain and it is unknown if welfare and humane slaughter practices are in place. Management and regulation for the aquaculture sector in Indonesia is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.Rating last updated November 2024

Organic Tiger prawns (P. monodon) from Madagascar and Vietnam farmed in extensive systems do not rely on feed inputs. Organic certification ensures best practices and guidelines are in place for animal welfare and humane slaughter and also mitigates many areas of environmental concern. The production of Organic Tiger prawn does not allow the destruction of mangroves for pond construction, pond discharges are low and only minimal chemical treatments are used, if at all. Surrounding wild shrimp populations are also not impacted by disease or escapes from farms but can be used to supply juveniles, the status of which is uncertain. There are still some improvements to be made. Currently, lethal control of predators may still be used and strategic level environmental planning is not in place. Management and regulation of the aquaculture sector, while comprehensive, still needs to be better resourced to ensure effectiveness.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated: October 2021

GLOBALG.A.P. farmed prawns are well managed and management is thought to be fully effective. The Aquaculture standard has criteria in place for welfare and humane slaughter. It also mitigates many areas of environmental concern in prawn farming, including freshwater depletion, habitat alteration, discharge of effluents, chemical usage, escapes and disease and parasite interactions. This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated: October 2024

Giant tiger prawns certified by the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), formerly Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) are managed well and the Farm Standard mitigates many areas of environmental concern in prawn farming, including freshwater depletion, habitat alteration, discharge of effluents, chemical usage, escapes and disease and parasite interactions. The Farm Standard also has criteria in place to ensure animal welfare and humane slaughter. A 4* rating ensures compliance with the BAP Feed Mill Standard. However, there are still improvements that could be made, including the addition of a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment, and increasing the percentage inclusion more criteria on the sourcing of responsible feed ingredients.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated December 2024.

ASC farmed tiger prawns are well managed and management is thought to be fully effective. The standard mitigates many areas of environmental concern in prawn farming, including freshwater depletion, habitat alteration, discharge of effluents, chemical usage, escapes and disease and parasite interactions. However, there are still improvements that could be made. Criteria on sustainable feed still refers to the interim solution, with requirements for responsible ingredient sourcing lacking, these will be introduced with the new feed mill standard. Criteria on animal welfare is also lacking, with no requirements for humane slaughter.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated December 2024.

Giant tiger prawns certified by the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), formerly Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) are managed well and the Farm Standard mitigates many areas of environmental concern in prawn farming, including freshwater depletion, habitat alteration, discharge of effluents, chemical usage, escapes and disease and parasite interactions. The Farm Standard also has criteria in place to ensure animal welfare and humane slaughter. A 4* rating ensures compliance with the BAP Feed Mill Standard. However, there are still improvements that could be made, including the addition of a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment, and increasing the percentage inclusion more criteria on the sourcing of responsible feed ingredients.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated December 2024.