Squid and cuttlefish are highly intelligent cephalopods harvested in enormous numbers globally, yet their welfare is almost entirely unregulated.
Cephalopods have centralised nervous systems with large brain-to-body ratios and extensive processing capacity. Cuttlefish pass marshmallow-test-style delayed gratification experiments, indicating sophisticated cognitive planning. The welfare of squid during jig fishing — where barbed hooks pierce the mantle — and during live bait use deserves precautionary consideration. The sentience evidence for cephalopods is now strong enough to warrant regulatory attention.