After months of training and fundraising, nine-year-old Lily Niederhofer has completed a gruelling 2km open-water swim in the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for our campaign to stop the world’s first octopus farm.

When Lily heard about plans to build an octopus factory farm on Gran Canaria in Spain she was determined to support our campaign to protect them as they are one of her favourite animals.

Octopus farm poses welfare & environmental threat

Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova plans to rear around one million octopuses in its proposed farm every year. Octopuses are solitary creatures who are totally unsuited to farming conditions and will suffer confined in tanks.

The environmental and sustainability threats from octopus farming are also substantial. Rearing carnivorous octopuses requires huge amounts of wild fish, contributing to overfishing at a time when fish stocks are already under pressure.

Commitment to the cause pays off

The swim drew supporters and media and raised thousands of pounds for the campaign, in addition to raising awareness of the animal welfare and environmental concerns of the proposed farm.

Lily, a longtime vegetarian and passionate defender of the ocean and marine wildlife, commented: “Octopuses are incredible creatures, and they need our help. I wanted to do something significant to raise awareness and funds to protect them. The ocean swim was a lot of work but knowing I was making a difference for my favourite animal kept me going! I’m so pleased it was such a success, and that I inspired many others to complete their own challenges in support of our octo-friends.”

The Ocean Born Foundation is dedicated to protecting and restoring the ocean by creating new, sustainable streams of income that ensure the wellbeing of the planet for future generations.

Through Lily's campaign, the Foundation seeks to uplift the voices of young people around the world who will need to live with the consequences of our actions today.

Lily’s Octo-Swim is more than a fundraising effort; it is a call to action for young people worldwide to raise their voices and make a tangible impact on the future of our oceans.

Find out more about Lily's swim and how to sponsor her.

Kids and teenagers who love the octopus and the ocean are encouraged to join Lily in supporting the Ocean Born Foundation’s Octo-Defenders Team.