The greatest suffering in the world—and almost no one talks about it
Shrimp
Billions of shrimp are abused, suffocated, and mutilated every year—and almost no one knows. It's time we recognize them for what they are: sentient individuals with the right to a life free from suffering. Read on to learn why we believe shrimp farming and consumption must stop, and what you can do to help.
Imagine being surrounded by filth, disease, and stress. Having your eyes cut out so you can be more “productive.” Being pulled from the water and left to slowly suffocate to death while your fellow shrimp suffer the same fate beside you.
This is not some dystopian future. It is the reality for the billions of shrimp farmed and caught each year for our dinner plates. And it is virtually never discussed.
Brutal treatment
We've been taught to believe shrimp are just small shellfish—that they don’t feel pain—that they’re simply “food.” But the truth is, shrimp have nervous systemssimilar to other animals. They respond to pain, remember bad experiences, learn, and try to avoid suffering. They are someone —not something.They are individuals—never to be reduced to mere tons.
Shrimp are among the most exploited animals in the world—both in numbers and in the degree of suffering. Each year, about 440 billion shrimp are farmed globally, and a staggering 25 trillion (!) are caught in the wild.That’s more than any other animal killed for human consumption. And their fate unfolds with almost no public debate, media attention, or compassion.
In the fishing industry, it is common practice to cut or crush one or both eyes of female shrimp (called eye stalk ablation). This forces the shrimp to produce more eggs at a faster rate. The procedure harms not only the females but their offspring—and it’s done without anesthesia. Though this is not common in Denmark, many shrimp consumed here are imported from countries that practice eye stalk ablation.
When shrimp are killed, they are usually pulled from the water and left to slowly suffocate on land. For hours. On ice. Packed with thousands of others. We don’t know exactly how long they suffer. Only they do.
🧠 Did you know?
Research shows shrimp respond to pain, learn from discomfort, and have preferences—just like other animals.
Shrimp are individuals.
Most animals we consider in animal rights and ethics are mammals or birds—animals we know and sometimes spend millions protecting. But shrimp are small, quiet, and their suffering is invisible. Not because it’s less than others’, but because we choose not to see it.
But that choice can be changed.
Several initiatives are underway to introduce electrical stunning for shrimp farmers, aiming to make their death less horrific. This is just one of many new efforts showing progress toward shrimp welfare.
But here at Dyrenes Alliance Dyrenes Alliance, we believe it’s not enough! It’s possible to completely end shrimp suffering by letting them live their preferred, natural lives—free from human-inflicted pain and suffering. The easiest way is to eat It is possible to completely avoid shrimp suffering by allowing them to live their preferred, natural lives free from human-inflicted pain and suffering. The easiest way to do this is by eating vegan and plant-based. Der findes allerede nu lækre og sunde alternativer til rejer, og endda nogle, som ligner og smager fuldstændig som fisk og rejer. Der er altså ingen undskyldning for ikke at vælge et af disse alternativer til spisebordet fremfor dyr, som har lidt en grusom skæbne. Hvis du har lyst til at prøve den veganske livsstil og spise plantebaseret, kan du prøve vores VeganerUdfordring.
There’s a sea of lives we’ve never learned to care for. It’s time to change that. You can help by trying VeganerUdfordringen, or by supporting our work for shrimp’s right to an undisturbed life.
What does the science say?
Science shows shrimp don’t just react automatically. They withdraw from pain, tend to wounds, and avoid places where they’ve previously suffered.Studies show some individuals prefer to endure pain rather than leave a safe shelter. This behavior is typical of sentient beings—because that’s what they are.
We just never learned to see it.
They feel. They remember. They suffer.
🧠 Did you know?
If a shrimp undergoes eye stalk ablation, it will tend to the injured area.This is not just a reflex—it’s evidence the shrimp felt pain.
You can make a difference for shrimp
Shrimp are sentient beings. They have preferences, learn from pain, show fear, and try to avoid suffering. Like all animals, they deserve to be seen as individuals—not commodities.
What happens to shrimp today is the greatest organized suffering on the planet—measured in numbers and in lack of protection.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about making a choice. When we decide what to eat, we decide what to support. Beyond trying VeganerUdfordringen, you can also: