Plans are in motion for the world’s first industrial octopus farm to open in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Led by Spanish multinational seafood company Nueva Pescanova, farmed octopus products could soon appear on the market.
Octopuses have limited protections in EU legislation and little is known about their complex welfare needs in captivity. As a new industry, there also is no accepted, scientifically-validated method for the humane slaughter of octopuses. Consequently, this first farm in Spain will have no welfare requirements or standards to abide by as production begins, which includes plans to raise 3,000 tonnes of octopus per year — This translates to nearly one million individual octopuses suffering and facing painful deaths annually.
Aside from ethical concerns, octopus farming poses threats to the environment. For instance, due to the carnivorous nature of octopuses, a high ratio of fish will be required for their feed. Wild fish populations are already declining to produce fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture markets that operate in highly unsustainable ways.
The proposed land-based farming system will require continual replenishment of water by pumps, which is highly energy intensive. The proposed building site of this aquaculture facility is located within close proximity (approximately 800 metres) to a marine protected area that is part of the EU Natura 2000 network. Disturbances from the construction of this new aquaculture facility and discharge of waste water into the sea during farming operations could cause significant damage to this important habitat area and the many protected species depending on it.
Take a look at our joint case study with Compassion in World Farming exposing the specific issues with the aquaculture licensing application made for the farm in the Canary Islands.
Did you know?
As highly inquisitive and intelligent creatures, octopuses are exceptionally ill-suited for intensive farms.
Without an internal or external skeleton for protection, octopuses have fragile skin that can be easily damaged if farmed.
Octopuses are solitary by nature and may turn to cannibalism in crowded farming conditions.
The feed conversion ratio for octopuses is estimated at 3:1, which is higher than that of most current species in aquaculture.
The world’s first planned octopus farm has proposed ice slurry as the slaughter method, an inhumane practice causing long, painful deaths.
POLICY - CURRENT STATE OF PLAY
As invertebrate species, octopuses are currently not included under any EU farm animal welfare legislative protections. However, intensive octopus farming fundamentally contrasts with the EU’s Strategic Aquaculture Guidelines. These guidelines emphasise the need for aquaculture to transition to non-carnivorous ‘low-trophic’ species for a sustainable future.
Contrary to these principles, Nueva Pescanova has requested EU funding, specifically from NextGeneration EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, to support their octopus farming endeavours. This would be an inappropriate use of EU public funding that should be driving sustainable development.
WHAT WE WANT
Eurogroup for Animals wants the EU to stop octopus farming before it becomes established. The UK government commissioned a report published by the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 2021, concluding that octopuses are sentient beings in need of legal protection. Their findings suggested high-welfare octopus farming is impossible. We want:
The EU animal welfare legislative review to prevent octopus farming and any low-welfare farming systems.
Public funds not to be used to support unsustainable farming systems.
