Scientists say NO to the world's first octopus farm. Here's why

The world has learned to be okay with poultry farming (i.e farming goats, hens, pigs and chickens). Though the scope of farmed animals is immense, the problems associated with it has also increased.

Spain has been witnessing a massive growth in demand for 'octopus farming'. A Spanish company even plans to open the first commercial octopus farm next year. But scientists learning more and more about these enigmatic creatures have warned that commercial octopus farming could be an ethical and environmental disaster.

Well, they have their reasons to be concerned. 

OCTOPUS FARMING - A BACKGROUND

Popular in Mediterranean and East Asian cuisines, the demand for octopus has increased due to a rise in consumption of sushi, tapas and a high-quality protein diet. The supply market of octopus, for which Japan and Spain are famous, have both seen a rise in demand and prices for these exotic creatures.

The demand for octopuses isn't limited to cooking a great delicacy, but these mysterious, graceful, and tentacled animals are increasingly being kept as pet creatures too. The creatures are often lured using traditional methods - that is by using crabs from long bamboo poles. 

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT OCTOPUSES? 

Octopuses have a sophisticated nervous system, have large brains and are also capable of:

1. Problem-solving,
2. Mimicking their surroundings by changing colours in a matter of seconds,
3. Outwitting predatory sharks,
4. Discriminating against individual humans,
5. Engaging in playful behaviour, and
6. Hunting in response to cooperative signals sent by fish. 

THE REASON TO FARM THEM

Between 2010 and 2019 the value of the global octopus trade ballooned to $2.72 billion from $1.30 billion. But despite knowing the impact on the animals, companies are investing millions of Euros into farming, even though they are yet to receive environmental approvals. Farming these creatures is expected to give them commercial benefits with an increase in production by 3,000 tonnes per year till 2026 for domestic and international food chains. 

SO WHY IS FARMING OCTOPUSES A BIG DEAL GLOBALLY?

In 2019, Jennifer Jacquet, a professor of environmental studies at New York University, and several co-authors posted an essay on “The Case Against Octopus Farming”. This essay went viral as it argued that the ethical and environmental consequences of industrial meat production "should lead us to ask whether we want to repeat mistakes already made with terrestrial animals, with aquatic animals, especially octopus". 

Since historical times, animals like goats and chickens were farmed using a ''factory production'' approach that was pretty inhuman. Such bulk farming practices later led to issues like animal rights, animal welfare, and environmental impact like habitat loss, etc. 

Since we have experienced the cons of unconscious animal farming practices, why would we want to repeat the same with a new species of animal that are found to be more intelligent and the kind that will not survive well in these farming practices? 

SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS

1. Aquatic animal farming is not rampant yet, so much less is known about the best way to farm them. But it is known that captive fishes tend to develop traits that are not seen in the wild and are found to be more aggressive due to chronic stress. They are also prone to injury and diseases.

2. Fishes raised in intensive production systems have a weak immune system than wild fishes. Even parameters like tank-wall color can have dramatic effects on fish preferences and aggression. The stress and monotony of confinement, increased aggression, parasitic infection, digestive tract issues and a high mortality rate are all associated with intensive farming. And the culture of feeding fish to fish (aquaculture), so that humans could eat them, is wiping out the varied species from the seas. 

3. Scientific evidence also shows that octopuses are "sentient beings" and they can experience pleasure, excitement and joy - but also pain, distress and harm.

THE PROBLEM WITH AQUACULTURE

Octopuses are great aquaculture candidates as they live a short life and grow fast. But octopuses can only grow fast if they survive the most challenging phase of their growth - i.e. sustaining the hatchlings until hit a rocketing growth. There are two ways of raising octopuses:

One is by farming them and ensuring that planktonic hatchlings are raised and sustained. But if this fails, companies revert to ranching, which is growing wild octopuses for the market size in small pens (harmful for the animals but a common practice in Spain). Experts say that Octopus aquaculture will further deplete marine ecosystems and needlessly torment these sensitive and intelligent invertebrates. Thus farming should not be the ultimate option but Plan B. 

Since its difficult to convert people's consumption patterns or force them to only eat veggies, isnt it our job to find conscious food alternatives instead of damaging lives of animals without harming their existence and quality of life ?