World's first octopus farm in Spain stirs ethical debate

Published Feb 23, 2022

Tridge summary

A Spanish company, Nueva Pescanova, is planning to open the world's first commercial octopus farm, aimed at meeting the growing demand for seafood. The farm, located in Spain and pending environmental approval, will produce 3,000 tonnes of octopus annually by 2026 for domestic and international food chains, creating hundreds of jobs. Despite the potential benefits, the plan has sparked concerns from scientists and animal rights groups about the welfare and sustainability of keeping octopuses in captivity. Octopuses are known to be intelligent and capable of feeling distress, raising ethical dilemmas. The company is investigating alternative feed sources to reduce environmental impact. The proposal faces opposition from traditional octopus fishermen and restaurant staff, who worry about the potential drop in quality and competition.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

MADRID (Feb 23): Spurred on by soaring demand for seafood, a Spanish company plans to open the first commercial octopus farm next year but as scientists discover more about the enigmatic animals some warn it could be an ethical and environmental disaster. "This is a global milestone," said Roberto Romero, aquaculture director at Nueva Pescanova, the company pouring €65 million (US$74 million) into the farm, which is pending environmental approval from local authorities. At the company's research centre in Galicia, northwest Spain, several octopuses silently propelled themselves around a shallow indoor tank. Two technicians in waders plucked a mature specimen into a bucket for transfer to a new enclosure, with five other octopuses. Building on decades of academic research, Nueva Pescanova beat rival companies in Mexico and Japan to perfect the conditions needed for industrial-scale breeding. The commercial incentives for the farm, which is slated to produce 3,000 tonnes per year by ...

Source: Theedgemarkets