Squid Pro Quo

CAMPAIGNERS STOP PLANS FOR WORLD'S FIRST OCTOPUS FARM

Following 5 years of overwhelming public opposition, campaigning, 3 major research reports, thousands of emails and over 140 NGO and scientist signatures, the Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova, has finally abandoned plans for the world's first octopus farm in Gran Canaria, Spain!

It's now widely recognised that Octopuses are remarkable individuals who experience a wide range of emotions and sensations including pain, fear, and joy and that they use tools, solve complex problems, and communicate through sophisticated colour changes. This landmark victory, brings to an end the cruel controversial scheme that would have condemned hundreds of thousands of intelligent, sensitive octopuses to live in confined barren tanks, suffering stress, aggression and injuries before being subject to either violent slaughter or being frozen to death. They have been documented struggling in captivity to the point of cannibalism and inducing self-harm and evidence shows they cannot be farmed - or slaughtered - humanely.

The proposed farm was also criticised for its environmental impact. According to PETA, as carnivores, "the octopuses would have required vast quantities of fish and crustaceans, placing further pressure on already strained ocean ecosystems and causing more pain and suffering. In fact, the project would have fuelled the industrial fishing industry by requiring an estimated 2.1 billion fish - including sardines, anchovies and mackerel - to be caught and killed in its first year alone to feed the octopuses." Compassion in World Farming also pointed out that this would impact the marine biodiversity near the site and that vulnerable coastal communities who depend on these fish for food would also be affected.

Compassion in World Farming together with AnimaNaturalis had a protest planned for this Saturday, July 25th 2026, backed by groups including Ecologistas en Accion, the Aquatic Life Institute and Eurogroup for Animals, but thankfully, after this announcement coming just two days before, it's now not needed!

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 or unsustainable practices. Now governments must go further by banning octopus farming and preventing the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture."

The abandonment of the project is being seen as a celebratory moment in the growing global movement against octopus farming, and adds momentum to calls for a wider phase-out of factory farming across all animal species.