Plans to establish the world’s first octopus farm in the Canary Islands have been abandoned following prolonged controversy over the proposed methods of animal treatment and slaughter. Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova had sought to build the facility in Las Palmas to breed and raise octopuses for commercial sale, but withdrew its application for an operating license after a five-year legal dispute.
Nueva Pescanova, a pioneer in captive octopus breeding, had raised over £40 million to develop the farm, which was designed to produce up to one million octopuses in its first year. The project faced significant opposition from animal welfare advocates, environmental groups, and local authorities concerned about the ethical and ecological implications of farming these cephalopods.
Critics highlighted that the farm would house octopuses in communal tanks illuminated continuously, a practice deemed contrary to the species’ natural behaviors, as octopuses are territorial and typically inhabit dark, secluded environments. Animal rights organizations decried the planned slaughter method, which involved immersing the animals in an “ice slurry” at -3°C to kill them by freezing—a technique described as inhumane.
The Canary Islands government initiated an environmental impact inquiry, which extended the approval process and intensified scrutiny of the project’s potential effects on marine ecosystems and public health. Opponents also raised concerns about bacterial infections among farmed octopuses possibly posing risks to local water quality and consumer safety.
After years of legal challenges and protests, the Las Palmas port authority confirmed that Nueva Pescanova had formally withdrawn its application, effectively halting the farm’s development. The company attributed its decision to “business and regulatory considerations” but declined further comment.
Animal welfare group Pacma, a Spanish political party active in the region, welcomed the withdrawal as a victory for animal rights and environmental protection. Iris Sánchez, Pacma’s leader in Gran Canaria, emphasized the importance of collective activism, stating that the outcome demonstrated the influence of organized social pressure on decisions affecting animal welfare.
Octopus meat consumption has surged globally over the past four decades, with demand more than doubling to around 400,000 tons annually, positioning octopus farming as a potentially lucrative venture. Nueva Pescanova previously announced technological advances enabling communal tank farming by managing water temperatures to reduce stress and aggression among captive octopuses.
Despite these scientific developments, the ethical debates surrounding cephalopod farming have amplified calls for regulatory measures, with various groups urging the European Union to consider banning octopus farming entirely.
The decision to scrap the project marks a significant setback for commercial octopus aquaculture but underscores ongoing tensions between emerging seafood production methods and animal welfare concerns.