Why Establishing an Octopus Farm Is a Horrendous Concept
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Chapter 1: The Disturbing Proposal for an Octopus Farm
Recently, I stumbled upon alarming news regarding a Spanish company’s proposal to establish the world's first octopus farm. My immediate reaction was one of disbelief. There is growing evidence indicating that cephalopods, including octopuses, possess the capability to feel pain, highlighting their sentience. This initiative is nothing short of cruel. But how did we arrive at this point?
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Section 1.1: The Motivation Behind the Farm
The Spanish multinational, Nueva Pescanova, aims to create this farm primarily because octopus is a popular dish globally. They have identified a lucrative market opportunity to cater to "premium international markets" in countries like the US, South Korea, and Japan. Notably, they plan to produce approximately 3,000 tonnes of octopus annually, which translates to about one million deaths each year. They anticipate a mortality rate of 10-15% among the octopuses. Disturbingly, their method of euthanasia involves submerging the animals in water maintained at -3°C. Additionally, they intend to confine the octopuses in containers under constant lighting, a truly inhumane approach.
Section 1.2: Understanding Cephalopod Sentience
Cephalopods, which encompass octopuses, cuttlefish, and squids, belong to the Mollusca phylum. Renowned as the most intelligent invertebrates, octopuses exhibit remarkable behaviors such as opening jars to access food, engaging in observational learning, and employing sophisticated hunting strategies.
Recent studies, including a comprehensive review by Birch et al. (2021) published in Wellbeing International, have examined the sentience of cephalopods. This review, encompassing over 300 scientific studies, concluded that these creatures likely experience pain. As a result, octopuses were officially recognized as sentient beings in the UK under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act of 2022.
Chapter 2: The Flaws in the Farming Concept
The first video, "My Octopus Farmer | Why is octopus farming so unethical?" delves into the ethical dilemmas associated with octopus farming, highlighting the suffering these sentient beings may endure in such settings.
The second video, "Spain's Controversial Venture: The World's First Commercial Octopus Farm," explores the implications of this controversial venture and its potential impacts on cephalopod welfare.
5 Reasons Why This Initiative is a Terrible Idea
It’s astonishing that the company disregards the natural behaviors of octopuses, particularly the species they intend to farm—Octopus vulgaris. Here are several reasons why this farming concept is misguided:
- Social Isolation: Octopuses are solitary animals. Housing them together can lead to stress, aggression, and increased mortality rates due to cannibalism.
- Cruel Euthanasia: Research indicates that using "ice slurry" methods causes a painful and distressing death for fish and octopuses.
- Stress from Constant Light: As primarily nocturnal creatures, keeping them under constant illumination is inherently stressful.
- Unacceptable Mortality Rates: A projected 10-15% mortality rate is simply intolerable.
- Environmental Impact: The wastewater produced by the farm raises significant ecological concerns.
Although this news surfaced last year, it remains crucial to address the implications of such a misguided venture. These examples illustrate how profit motives can lead companies to disregard fundamental scientific knowledge regarding the natural behaviors of Octopus vulgaris.
It is clear that octopuses are intelligent, sentient beings deserving of the same protections as all animals. If you found this article insightful, here are a few ways to support the cause:
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Thank you for reading!
See you,
Axel