Major Victory For Octopuses As Plans For The World’s First Commercial Octopus Farm Are Abandoned
In a landmark victory for animal welfare and ocean conservation, Nueva Pescanova has abandoned plans to build what would have been the world’s first commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria, Spain. The decision ends years of debate over a proposal that many scientists and animal welfare experts argued should never move forward.
The proposed facility had drawn widespread international criticism since it was first announced in 2021. Scientists, marine conservationists, and animal welfare organizations questioned both the ethics of farming octopuses and the environmental impact such an operation could have on marine ecosystems.
Octopuses are considered among the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Research has shown they are capable of solving complex problems, using tools, recognizing individual humans, and displaying remarkable learning abilities. Many scientists and animal welfare experts argued that octopuses’ intelligence, complex behaviors, and naturally solitary nature make them fundamentally unsuited to intensive farming.
Environmental concerns also fueled opposition to the project. According to research by Compassion in World Farming, the proposed farm would have required approximately 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish during its first year of operation to produce just 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat. The organization said the project’s demand for wild-caught fish would have placed additional strain on already overfished oceans, threatening marine ecosystems.
Compassion in World Farming led an international campaign opposing the project, bringing together scientists, conservation organizations, and supporters from around the world. According to the organization, more than 43,000 people contacted the Las Palmas Port Authority during the campaign’s final phase, urging officials to close the planning application.
Reacting to the announcement, 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 the proposed farm will not move forward, Compassion in World Farming said it will continue advocating for legal bans on octopus farming in Spain and internationally while working to protect wild octopus populations and prevent the expansion of intensive carnivorous aquaculture.
The cancellation of the project marks an important victory for animal welfare, marine conservation, and everyone who worked to protect one of the ocean’s most remarkable species. It also highlights the growing role that public engagement and advocacy can play in protecting wildlife around the world.
