Fish are smart, interesting animals with unique personalities, and just like dogs, cats, and humans, they feel pain. Scientists who study pain are in complete agreement that the pain response in fish is basically identical to the pain response system in mammals and birds. But the fish industry slaughters more than 6 billion fish each year. Every single one of those billion fish are stolen from the water, fighting for breath, feeling their chest move slower and slower, until they finally die an agonizing death. Without any legal protection from cruel treatment, these complex animals are impaled, crushed, suffocated, or cut open and gutted, all while they're conscious.

Muller is one of the only photographers to take his camera below the surface to record the true nature of sharks, showing people that they do not have the intention to harm humans. Sharks and fish have a purpose in life, just as humans do—and when that life is stripped away, they feel pain, fear, and distress, just as we do. Joaquin captures their panic and helplessness in this video.

Fish don't want to suffocate on land just as we don't want to drown in water. You can stop their suffering. Take the pledge to go vegan: http://features.peta.org/joaquin-phoenix-is-drowning/

Subscribe and never miss another video: http://peta.vg/g4 less