Susceptibility to hydrodynamic and mechanical shear forces affects performance of cultured cells of animals, plants, microalgae, and cyanobacteria. In addition, hydromechanical forces affect or otherwise damage some commercially relevant mycelial fungi, filamentous bacteria, microbial flocs, and biofilms. In specific cases, intense shear fields may also damage the larger bioactive molecules such as enzymes. This article details the shear sensitivity of the major types of biocatalysts and the approaches available for mitigating the damaging effects. Methods for estimating shear rate and shear stress are discussed for various configurations of bioreactors operated in process‐relevant conditions.