Making Progress for Shrimp Welfare (RP Strategic Animal Webinars)
Welcome to the RP Strategic Animal Webinars: Making Progress for Shrimp Welfare talk and Q&A session
Date: August 26, 2025 (10 AM PDT, 1 PM EDT, 6 PM BST, 7 PM CEST).
About: Join us for a comprehensive overview of the current state of shrimp welfare work and discover concrete ways to help one of the most numerous farmed animals on the planet. This collaborative webinar brings together leading researchers and advocates to share knowledge about existing approaches, identify critical gaps, and provide actionable next steps for the movement.
With billions of shrimp farmed annually across neglected geographies, their welfare represents an enormous and underexplored opportunity for impact. This session will equip activists, researchers, and advocates with the latest insights and strategic directions for advancing shrimp welfare.
Speakers:
Hannah McKay is a Research Analyst in the animal welfare department at Rethink Priorities. Her research encompasses work on the welfare of farmed shrimp and wild animals. Hannah holds an undergraduate degree in Zoology and a master’s in Biological Anthropology, and she has previously volunteered at Faunalytics and ALLFED.
Dr. Krzysztof Wojtas is the Chief Programmes Officer at Shrimp Welfare Project. He holds a PhD in Fish Welfare, with around 10 years of experience in aquatic animal welfare. Krzysztof served as a Researcher and Assistant Professor at Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. He also coordinated the fish welfare working group at Eurogroup for Animals and led the aquatic animal welfare programme and expert team at Compassion in World Farming International.
Dr. Ben Sturgeon is the Chief Executive Director of Crustacean Compassion. He is a qualified veterinary surgeon working in academia and practice for over 20 years before devoting himself to animal welfare and One Health. He is a published author of scientific research, academic texts, opinion pieces, and lay articles.
Tessa Gonzalez (she/her) is Head of Research at Aquatic Life Institute. She studied marine biology/affairs at the University of Miami in her home state of Florida. She worked at several US-based ocean conservation programs before moving to Asia in 2017. Tessa held STEM academic advising and environmental development positions in Beijing, China, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, while obtaining a master’s degree in environmental law and policy virtually from Vermont Law School.
Format: We’ll start with a focused 20-30 minute presentation followed by an extended Q&A session with ample opportunity for discussion and exchange of ideas.
Organized by Rethink Priorities in partnership with Shrimp Welfare Project, Crustacean Compassion, and Aquatic Life Institute.