Be an Octopus Defender
Join our call for EU ban on cruel octopus factory farming
Facing growing demand in food industries, Nueva Pescanova intends to construct the world’s first factory farm for octopuses in Spain during 2023. With only one final permit standing in their way, we are desperately looking for people to join our fight and help us call out the ethical implications, environmental consequences, and ecosystemic repercussions (to name a few) that farms like this cause.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS FARM?
Since maintaining ideal growth conditions in the open ocean is logistically near-impossible, they intend to raise the octopuses in tanks on land. While these tanks are more convenient for the industry, they are incredibly resource-intensive to run which raises questions about energy use and emissions. Additionally, it is unclear how the large quantities of water will be treated before being released to waterways. Finally, we don’t know if they intend to isolate octopus to restrictive, individual pipes or cram them into communal tanks; but in either case there are serious concerns about how the creatures’ welfare will be ensured.
JOIN US IN SHARING THE CAMPAIGN
Social Media Assets Here.
Science against octopus farming here.
Petitions Here.
6 reasons to stop octopus farming
1. Ecosystems that are close to fish farms have been shown to suffer many adverse effects
2. Octopuses are carnivores, and other animals such as crabs, squids and hake must be caught or raised for their food. Ecologists have urged societies not to farm carnivores.
3. Octopuses can suffer from up to 20 different pathologies, including Vibrio Cholerae, which causes the cholera disease in humans.
4. The European Union's Farm-to-Fork strategy seeks to promote a more sustainable food system, and this farm will worsen the climate crisis and environmental degradation.
5. Research on octopus in farmed settings has demonstrated cannibalism and aggression, parasitic infections, and problems with digestion.
6. Octopuses are eight armed geniuses with three hearts who use tools. They will suffer immensely in captivity.
Image Credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam
Octopuses are extraordinary creatures with three hearts, eight arms and a brain in each tentacle. They can change the colour and texture of their skin to camouflage against nearly any background in a matter of seconds. They can taste and even perceive light with the suckers on their arms. And with no internal or external skeleton, they can contort themselves into impossibly tight spaces. They are an evolutionary wonder and a magnificent creature that we ought to protect by whatever means possible.
