Compassion in World Farming, together with 26 other animal protection organisations, has written to Defra’s Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey MP, calling on her to consider the animal welfare implications of proposals to begin octopus farming and to ensure that products coming from such farms are not permitted into the UK.

This follows the application submitted for establishing an octopus farm in the Canary Islands, which, if approved, would be the world’s first industrial octopus farm. In addition, there are attempts to establish similar octopus farms in other parts of the world such as Mexico and Japan. Octopus has become an increasingly popular food in recent decades and, as a result, wild octopus numbers are dwindling. In 2015, the number of octopuses caught around the world reached a high of 400,000 tonnes – 10 times more than in 1950.

In February, in a first of its kind move, Washington State in the US, signalled it would take steps toward banning octopus farming. This followed the recent closure of the only active octopus farm in the US, the “Kanaloa Octopus Farm” based in Hawaii. The coalition hope that the UK Government will take a similar approach by prohibiting the import or sale of octopus products from these systems.

Dr Nick Palmer, UK Head of Compassion in World Farming, said: “These farms raise serious animal welfare and sustainability concerns due to the cruelty involved and the environmental damage inflicted on our oceans.”

Experimental trials to farm octopuses suggest that the mortality rate in these systems would be around 20%, meaning that 1 in 5 individuals would not survive the entire production cycle.

Dr Nick Palmer continued: “The London School of Economics report on decapod crustaceans and cephalopods, very helpfully commissioned by Defra, found that cephalopods are intelligent, sentient and fascinating creatures. These animals need to explore and engage with the environment in order to express natural behaviours, not be confined in small barren tanks.

“The report also highlights their solitary nature and often aggressive behaviour towards each other when in confined spaces. The report’s authors are “convinced that high-welfare octopus farming is impossible.
“We urge Thérèse Coffey MP to take all necessary steps to ensure that the import or sale of products originating from octopus farms is prohibited in the UK.”

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For more information or to arrange interview please email media.team@ciwf.org or call 01483 521 615.