Commercial octopus farming is being developed by several companies. Given the strong evidence of octopus sentience, this raises profound welfare questions that the industry has largely not yet addressed.
Octopuses have exceptionally strong evidence for sentience — stronger than many vertebrate species considered without controversy. They have nociceptors, show protective behaviours when injured, display wound-directed responses, and are capable of learning to avoid painful stimuli. Farming naturally solitary animals in groups creates chronic social stress and likely aggression and injury. The inability to provide territories, stimulating environments, or express their full cognitive repertoire makes welfare provision extremely difficult. The case for not farming octopus while welfare standards are absent is compelling given the current evidence.