Eyestalk Ablation - WARNING, I find this profoundly disturbing

[Dexta]

Eyestalk ablation is the removal of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) eyestalks from a crustacean. It is routinely practiced on female shrimps (or female prawns) in almost every marine shrimp maturation or reproduction facility in the world, both research and commercial. The aim of ablation under these circumstances is to stimulate the female shrimp to develop mature ovaries and spawn.[1] The practice has drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates due to concerns about pain, distress, and long-term impacts on shrimp health and behavior. [2][3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyestalk_ablation

I had no idea this was a thing and so I suspect many of you didn't either. I've eaten shrimp and prawn most of my life and just found out about this yesterday. I don't know whether to be glad of the internet for making me/we aware of this, or curse it as I was previously living in blissful ignorance. I'm not really that unsure at all actually, definitely the former - the truth is best.

Don't eat shrimp/prawn anymore to deter them from committing this abhorrent practice? But then perhaps they'd try to drive down prices still further by producing more "efficiently" by committing even more eyestalk ablations. 

Dark dark dark. Jesus, imagine what kind of person performs these procedures for a 9-5 job.

[Unsapien]

I don't eat shrimp mostly because them and other shellfish are high in cholesterol, this just gives me another reason not to eat it, along with lobster & crab that are boiled alive.

People are generally okay with this because quite frankly they look ugly or insect like, nobody would be okay with boiling a pig or rabbit alive.

The first and last time I had foie gras was when I was a teenager, and as soon as I was told it was made by force feeding ducks & geese to make their liver like that I never ate it again same with caviar (which tastes disgusting to me anyway) where they squeeze the eggs out of the fish.

And sometimes you hear people make the excuse that they don't feel pain the way other animals do, I call bullshit on that, of course they feel the pain, they wouldn't be alive if they couldn't feel pain.

[Dexta]

No more shrimp or prawn for me until this barbaric practice ends. I'm not into crab or lobster anyway.

Techniques for eyestalk ablation include:[12]

Pinching the eyestalk, usually half to two-thirds down the eyestalk. This method may leave an open wound.

Slitting one eye with a razor blade, then crushing the eyestalk, with thumb and index fingernail, beginning one-half to two-thirds down the eyestalk and moving distally until the contents of eyes have been removed. This method, sometimes called enucleation, leaves behind the transparent exoskeleton so that clotting of haemolymph, and closure of the wound, may occur more rapidly.

Cauterizing through the eyestalk with either an electrocautery device or an instrument such as a red-hot wire or forceps. If performed correctly, this method closes the wound and allows scar tissue to form more readily. A variation of this technique is to use scissors or a sharp blade to sever the eyestalk, and then to cauterize the wound.

Ligation by tying off the eyestalk tightly with surgical or other thread. This method also has the advantage of immediate wound closure.

[SYZ]

Where I live downunder, the Animal Welfare Act 1992 (Victoria)
states that eyestalk ablation must be performed by a qualified
veterinarian, and that anaesthesia and ongoing post-operative
care must also be performed.  

Australian aquaculturists are currently researching hormonal
reproductive controls in order to phase out ablation.

[Dexta]

According to the Wiki article linked, eyestalk ablation is flat out illegal in Europe, these days. If it wasn't for Farage et al we'd be in that ethical boat in the UK too I guess.

What conscientious veterinarian could stoop so low as to allow the removal of countless animal's eyes in the name of $$$? Seeking an alternative? The alternative in the interim should be to NOT FUCKING DO IT AT ALL!!!

I'm so triggered by this issue. Horrific.

[Dexta]

"Eye stalk ablation" is actually three words, I messed up the thread title. Sorry.

[SYZ]

GSA to ban eyestalk ablation in BAP-certified shrimp by 2030



What is the path to viable alternatives to shrimp eyestalk ablation?