Ban Octopus Farming in the EU!

Why is this important?

The Spanish company Nueva Pescanova plans to open the world’s first commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria, aiming to sell octopus meat as soon as possible. [1] They falsely claim this will reduce pressure on wild octopus populations and create jobs. While the project is pending approval from the Canary Islands authorities, they have already secured a patent for breeding the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) since March 2021.

The company has not shared details about their farming methods, citing business confidentiality. [2] However, intensive octopus farming raises serious ethical and environmental concerns.

WHY IS IT UNETHICAL?

• Octopuses are highly intelligent creatures with complex nervous systems, capable of learning, solving problems, and using tools. [3] 
• They can feel pain and suffering, and they require space and mental stimulation that farming conditions cannot provide. [4] 
• A review of 300 studies confirms that octopuses are sentient beings and that farming them humanely is impossible and not economically viable. [5] 
• Moreover, current EU laws on livestock welfare do not apply to invertebrates like octopuses, leaving them unprotected from mass farming. [6]

WHY IS IT HARMFUL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

• As carnivores, octopuses need large quantities of fish and crustaceans for food. By feeding octopuses, commercial farms would contribute to overfishing and further harm marine ecosystems. [7]
• Additionally, these farms would cause pollution from chemicals like fertilizers, algaecides and disinfectants. 
• Overcrowded conditions would spread disease, with antibiotic use posing risks to surrounding waters.

In light of the serious ethical and environmental risks, we urge Spanish and EU leaders to ban octopus farming in Spain and across Europe. 

For more information, a full scientific bibliography is available at the following link.

References: