The idea of creating the world’s first octopus farm is becoming a reality in Spain. The aim is to start marketing mollusks in the country, where octopus is an important ingredient in many preparations. However, scientists and environmentalists were quick to comment on the matter, saying the move – which can bring benefits to the country – is actually a major problem. With their arguments, they give us the opportunity to open our eyes to a dangerous phenomenon that many people ignore.
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The scientific community has expressed itself negatively, leaving not even the slightest doubt about what it is saying. Octopus meat is widely consumed, and not only in Spain. This has negative repercussions on the environment: its population is seriously threatened by intensive fishing. But why not start an octopus farm? The reasons given by scientists are many: first of all, octopuses are very intelligent animals , able to perceive pain and feel emotions, and therefore they should not be sold in the food market. The second reason is the impact that intensive agriculture could have on fishing.
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The captive octopus farm is slated to open in 2022 in the Canary Islands, near the port of Las Palmas. The project will be carried out by Nueva Pescanova, who will invest more than 50 million euros to produce more than 3,000 tonnes of octopus per year, which will be sold by 2023. Scientists and activists have called the practice ” ethically and ecologically unjustifiable “, although Nueva Pescanova claims that breeding octopus in captivity saves octopuses that live in the wild and are the target of fishermen. Despite pressure from scientists and environmentalists, the company remains silent on how the facility will be managed and how the octopuses will be treated.
Dr Elena Lara said: “These creatures are fantastic. They are solitary and very intelligent. So putting them in sterile ponds without cognitive stimulation is bad for them. Intensive octopus rearing is a problem for this species and its intelligence. , but these reasons do not seem sufficient to prevent their commercialization for food purposes.
source used: BBC