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 beings entitled to a life free from suffering. Read why we believe shrimp farming and consumption must stop, and how you can help.
Imagine being surrounded by filth, disease, and stress. Having your eyes cut out to make you more “productive.” Being pulled out of water and slowly suffocating to death, while your fellow shrimp suffer the same fate beside you.
This isn’t a distant dystopia. It’s the reality for the billions of shrimp raised and caught each year for our plates. And it’s barely discussed.
Brutal treatment
We’ve been taught to think shrimp are just tiny shells, that they don’t feel anything, that—they’re just “food.” But the truth is shrimp have nervous systems, similar to other animals. They react to pain, remember bad experiences, learn, and try to avoid suffering. They are someone – not something. They are individuals, not commodities to be measured in tons.
Shrimp are among the most exploited animals globally—in both numbers and severity of suffering. About 440 billion shrimp are farmed worldwide annually, and a staggering 25 trillion (!) are caught in the wild. That’s more than any other animal killed for human food. And their suffering happens with almost no public discussion, media attention, or compassion.
In the fishing industry, it’s common practice to cut or crush one or both eyes off female shrimp (called eyestalk ablation). This forces shrimp to produce eggs far faster. The procedure harms both the females and their offspring—and is done without anesthesia. While not common in Denmark, many shrimp eaten here are imported from countries that practice eyestalk ablation.
When shrimp are killed, they’re usually pulled out of the water and left to slowly suffocate on land. For hours. On ice. Crushed with thousands of others. We don’t know exactly how long they suffer. Only they do.
🧠 Did you know?
Research shows shrimp react to pain, learn from discomfort, and have preferences—just like other animals.
Shrimp are individuals
Most animals discussed in animal rights and ethics are mammals or birds. They’re familiar, and millions are spent protecting them. But shrimp are small, silent, and their suffering invisible—not because it’s less, but because we’ve chosen not to see it.
But that choice can change.
Several initiatives are underway to introduce electric stunning devices to shrimp farmers, and efforts aim to make their deaths less horrific. These are just a few of the new efforts showing we are starting to fight for shrimp welfare.
But here at Plantespringet Dyrenes Alliance, we think it’s not enough! It’s possible to completely avoid shrimp suffering by letting them live their preferred, natural lives free from human-inflicted pain and cruelty. The easiest way is by eating plant-based and vegan. Delicious, healthy shrimp alternatives already exist—some that look and taste just like fish and shrimp. There’s no excuse not to choose these alternatives over animals who suffer such cruel fates. If you want to try the vegan lifestyle and eat plant-based, try our 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 fight for shrimp’s right to a peaceful life.
What does science say?
Science shows shrimp don’t just react automatically. They withdraw from pain, tend wounds, and avoid places where they’ve been hurt before.It's also proven some individuals choose to endure pain rather than leave a safe shelter. These behaviors are normally linked to 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 eyestalk ablation, it tends the injured area. This isn’t just reflex—it means it felt something.
You can make a difference for shrimp
Shrimp are sentient beings. They have preferences, learn from pain, show fear, and try to avoid suffering. They deserve—like all animals—to be recognized as individuals, not commodities.
What happens to shrimp is the greatest organized suffering on the planet today—in numbers and lack of protection.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about making a stand. When we choose what to eat, we also choose what to support. Besides trying VeganerUdfordringen, you can also: