Today, we’ve joined forces with 99 scientists to call on US legislators to keep octopuses wild.

A joint letter, published in the prestigious journal, Science, has signatories from over seven countries, including our Senior Science and Policy Advisor, Dr Elena Lara. It calls for US Congress to pass a ban on octopus farming.

The research is clear: octopuses are sensitive, sentient creatures, and it is not possible for commercial farms to meet standards for their welfare. Octopus farming could also be hugely damaging to marine ecosystems.

A growing movement

The letter reflects growing momentum around the world to stop octopus farming. Right now, the landmark national ban on commercial farming and farmed imports is currently in US Congress, and several US states are also considering – or have already passed - their own bans.

The legislation has been triggered by the shocking news that Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova plans to build the world’s first commercial octopus farm, on Gran Canaria, Spain. The company plans to keep more than one million of these wild animals confined in underwater tanks every year.

We’re doing everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen. Last month with Eurogroup for Animals, we published a report which highlighted the devastating environmental impacts of Nueva Pescanova’s plans. These were also outlined by the Canary Islands government.

Devastation to animals and ecosystems

As our letter outlines, octopuses can play, problem solve, use tools, ‘sense light with their whole body, and taste the world as they touch it’. When trapped in confined spaces, they can become withdrawn and hostile, even resorting to cannibalizing each other.

Eating live crabs, squids and hake in the wild, it would be unsustainable to meet their food needs in captivity.

Along with our welfare and sustainability concerns, the signatories warn that farming carnivorous animals such as octopus would be damaging to marine ecosystems, and is completely unnecessary for food security.

Dr Elena Lara, our Senior Science and Policy Advisor, said: “We’re proud to be part of the strong scientific community calling to ban this cruel industry before it can establish itself. This is a huge opportunity for the US to lead the way in octopus protection and to show the rest of the world that we simply cannot allow octopus farming.

Not only is commercial octopus farming bad for the animals, it just doesn’t make environmental sense. Put simply, the oceans will be healthier if octopuses stay wild.”