Major Victory For Octopuses As Plans For The World’s First Commercial Octopus Farm Are Abandoned
Following years of tireless advocacy led by Compassion in World Farming, Nueva Pescanova has abandoned its plans to build the world’s first commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria, Spain. The decision marks a major victory for animal welfare, ocean conservation, and the thousands of people who joined the campaign to stop the controversial project.
Nueva Pescanova, a Spanish multinational seafood company, first announced the project in 2021, outlining plans to farm approximately one million octopuses each year. The project quickly drew criticism from scientists, conservationists, and animal welfare organizations, who warned that these highly intelligent, solitary animals cannot be farmed or slaughtered humanely.
The proposal also raised serious environmental concerns. Research by Compassion in World Farming found the facility would have required approximately 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish during its first year to produce just 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat. Conservationists warned this would have placed additional pressure on already overfished oceans while harming marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and coastal communities.
The decision follows years of campaigning led by Compassion in World Farming. During the campaign’s final push, more than 43,000 people contacted the Las Palmas Port Authority, urging officials to close the planning application and prevent the project from moving forward.
Dr. Elena Lara, Senior Research and Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming, said:
“After years of pressure, this is a huge victory for octopuses, our oceans and everyone who joined us in campaigning to stop the world’s first octopus farm.
“Octopuses are intelligent, wild animals, not products to be caged in factory farms. The decision to abandon this project sends a powerful message that the future of food must not be built on animal suffering.
“Now governments must go further by banning octopus farming and preventing the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.”
While this is a historic victory, Compassion in World Farming says the fight is not over. The organization will continue working in Spain and internationally to secure bans on octopus farming, protect these remarkable animals in the wild, and prevent the expansion of intensive carnivorous aquaculture.
Today’s announcement is a powerful reminder that advocacy and public action can drive meaningful change. It is an important victory not only for octopuses, but also for healthier oceans and a more compassionate future for animals.
