The World Is Hungry For Octopus, What’s Wrong With Farming Them? (2024)

FAQs

The World Is Hungry For Octopus, What’s Wrong With Farming Them? ›

Crucially, octopuses are naturally solitary animals who will inevitably suffer in farm conditions. Confined in cramped indoor tanks of water, these intelligent, unique and sentient wild animals would cause them immense distress, causing aggression, and ultimately even cannibalism.

Octopuses are carnivorous.

Farming octopuses would put additional strain on our vulnerable marine ecosystems by adding to the use of wild-caught fish to feed farmed animals. Around one-third of the global fish catch is turned into feed.

Aquaculture facilities for octopuses have the potential to create an increased risk of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, they argue, contributing to environmental pollution and potential algal blooms that create low-oxygen dead zones devoid of life, disrupting local marine ecosystems.

Octopus farms would also pollute the surrounding environment; they would produce nitrogen and phosphorus waste, in addition to being responsible for contaminants including fertilizers, algaecides, herbicides, and disinfectants.

Researchers have suggested that, as particularly intelligent and playful creatures, octopuses are unsuited to a life in captivity and mass-production. Animal rights activists argue that farming octopuses will, based on this evidence, induce needless suffering on an unprecedented scale.

Octopus farming is cruel and immoral and this barbaric practice is condemned by both animal rights activists and many scientists. In addition to being extremely smart, octopus require stimulating and lively environments that are not found on factory farms.

Some animal advocates believe that such creatures shouldn't be kept in aquariums at all. "Life in a tank is no life at all for sensitive, intelligent octopuses," declares People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Octopus aquaculture is the factory farming of octopuses and commercial sale of their meat. Aquaculture already causes huge environmental damage – commercial octopus farming will likely increase harm to local ecosystems.

A Spanish company is aiming to factory farm octopuses for their meat, contending that it would help conserve the creatures in the wild. But critics argue that caging these highly sensitive mollusks, whose intelligence science is still revealing, would be cruel and inhumane.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-38) introduced A.B. 3162, the California Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act, to prohibit octopus farming on land or water and ban the import of farmed octopus in California.

Is it ethical to farm octopus? ›

As a result, many animal experts have concluded that farming octopuses would be an inhumane practice. There are other impacts to consider. Since aquaculture already causes environmental damage — adding commercial octopus farming to the mix without industry reform will likely only increase harm to local ecosystems.

Potential Risks of Octopus

Octopus is high in sodium, so be sure to eat it in moderation if you're watching your intake. Some people have an intolerance to the proteins in seafood. If you have an allergy to types of shellfish — like oysters, scallops, or shrimp — you should also avoid octopus.

Octopus farming will further deplete fish species

For every 3kg of octopus killed, 9kg of fish must also be killed to feed them, making it an unsustainable practice.

"Global octopus consumption amounts to 350,000 tons per year and the market is expected to grow by 21.5% in 2028 compared to 2022," according to Nueva Pescanova.

Octopuses have demonstrated intelligence in a number of ways, says Jon. 'In experiments they've solved mazes and completed tricky tasks to get food rewards. They're also adept at getting themselves in and out of containers.' There are also intriguing anecdotes about octopuses' abilities and mischievous behaviour.

Serious environmental concerns

In addition to toxic discharges of effluents into nearby ecosystems, potential farmed octopus escapes, as these animals are known for their escaping abilities [3], could contribute to spreading pathogens to marine wildlife and contaminate surrounding aquatic habitats.

Octopus farming will further deplete fish species

For every 3kg of octopus killed, 9kg of fish must also be killed to feed them, making it an unsustainable practice.

The biggest challenge most octopus-keepers face is providing adequate food because crabs and shrimp aren't cheap. Most octopuses accept frozen food, but we recommend offering live food for nutrition and enrichment. Despite some negatives of keeping this amazing animal, octopus aquariums are relatively simple.

Squid farming, also known as cephalopod farming is a type of aquaculture that involves the breeding and rearing of squid for commercial purposes. The practice of squid farming has gained popularity over the years as it offers a sustainable and costeffective means of producing high-quality seafood products.