Commercial octopus aquaculture is emerging globally, raising urgent welfare concerns about a highly intelligent invertebrate.
Octopus farming would confine highly intelligent, solitary animals in densely populated tanks. Cannibalism would require extreme density management. Octopuses show clear signs of stress and boredom in inadequate environments. Unlike fish farming, there is no history of breeding octopuses for captivity, meaning welfare problems start from scratch. Many scientists argue octopus farming is inherently unable to meet welfare needs.