Activists protest octopus farm plans

Animal rights activists gathered in Madrid on Sunday to protest the construction of an octopus farm in Spain. They raised concerns about the absence of specific laws in the country and the European Union to safeguard the well-being of captive animals. The activists argue that without proper regulations, the welfare of the octopuses might be compromised.

The planned octopus farm, intending to breed octopuses in captivity on a significant scale, is set to be constructed in the Canary Islands next year. The Canary Islands are an archipelago belonging to Spain, situated in the Atlantic Ocean.

Several dozen individuals attended the gathering to voice their concerns about a project that involves confining three million octopuses in pools. These activists highlighted the fact that octopuses are solitary predators in their natural habitat, and they raised doubts about the well-being of the creatures in such captivity.

According to Nova Pescanova, the seafood company behind the octopus farm project, octopuses raised in captivity will exhibit different behaviors compared to those in the wild. The company has been running a pilot project in a research facility in northern Spain since 2018, where they have successfully bred five generations of captive-born cephalopods.

Roberto Romero, the aquaculture director of the multinational company overseeing the octopus farm project, emphasized that respecting the welfare conditions of animal species is a fundamental requirement in the European Union. He stated that their group strictly complies with guidelines and legislation to ensure that the welfare of the octopuses is upheld.

Octopus holds a significant place in the Mediterranean diet, especially in Spain and Italy, where it is highly popular. However, despite its popularity, both countries rely heavily on imports to meet the demand for octopus. In recent years, there has been a global increase in the consumption of this delicacy. The United States, for instance, witnessed a 23% rise in imports, while China experienced a substantial surge of 73% between 2016 and 2018, as reported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.