Octopus operation over! Hundreds of thousands of octopuses have been spared from confinement, suffering, and violent slaughter after compassionate people spoke out, and a company scrapped its plans to build the world’s first commercial octopus farm. Spanish multinational corporation Nueva Pescanova has abandoned the project in Gran Canaria, Spain, reportedly withdrawing its application for a port concession in Las Palmas and bringing the proposed facility to an end.
Global Opposition Helped Sink the Project
This victory comes after a wave of backlash from scientists, PETA entities, and other animal protection groups, and members of the public around the world. PETA supporters sent more than 200,000 emails to Gran Canaria officials urging them to reject the cruel proposal.
Had the project moved forward, the company would have crammed intelligent, sensitive octopuses into desolate tanks before killing them for their flesh. Because octopuses are naturally shy and solitary, packing them into intensive farming systems would have caused immense stress, injuries, aggression, and even cannibalism.
The cruelty wouldn’t have stopped with the octopuses. To keep the facility running, an estimated 2.1 billion fish—including sardines, anchovies, and crustaceans—would have been caught and killed in its first year alone to feed the farmed octopuses. The scheme would have inflicted pain and suffering on a colossal scale while fueling the commercial fishing industry, which is already devastating the ocean’s ecosystems and the animals who call them home.
Every Animal Is Someone
Octopuses are remarkable animals who use tools, solve complex problems, and communicate through sophisticated color and texture changes. Many species of fish create artworks to woo potential mates. Crustaceans can feel pain and will actively avoid situations they’ve learned are harmful.
YOU Can Help Stop Octopus Farming Before It Starts in Your Own Backyard
While this cruel project has been defeated, the threat of octopus farming remains. That’s where YOU come in. If you live in the U.S., you can speak up by telling your legislators to support the Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced Through Unethical Strategies (OCTOPUS) Act (S. 1947). The bill would ban commercial octopus farming in the United States and prohibit the import of live or dead farmed octopuses from abroad.
This victory proves that public pressure works. Now, let’s make sure no company gets another chance to exploit and slaughter octopuses.
Other Ways to Help
The fishing industry continues to wipe out trillions of feeling animals every year, while destroying entire marine ecosystems.
The good news? You can make an impact every time you sit down to eat. Vegan seafood options—from fish-free tinned “tuna” to “crab” cakes and more—are becoming easier than ever to find in grocery stores and restaurants.
The time to act is now. By choosing vegan foods, you can help spare octopuses, fish, crustaceans, and countless other animals from suffering while protecting the oceans for future generations.
Vegan seafood products you need to try
Vegan brands changing the compassionate seafood game
Vegan fish recipes that will “catch” your eye
What are you waiting for? Go vegan today and be part of the solution.
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