Octopuses have distinctive personalities and recognize individual humans. These cognitive traits raise important questions about their welfare in research and aquaculture.
Octopus cognition has advanced far beyond what was recognized even a decade ago. Individual personality, caretaker recognition, and complex learning abilities suggest a rich inner life that makes welfare considerations urgent. Proposed large-scale octopus farming would involve confining naturally solitary and territorial animals in proximity, raising serious concerns about chronic stress, aggression, and injury. Research use of octopuses is growing rapidly, and welfare guidelines for their housing and experimental use are still being developed in most countries.