Giant squid are among the largest invertebrates on Earth. While rarely encountered alive, their potential sentience and bycatch capture raise emerging welfare questions.
Giant squid are cephalopods, a group that includes octopuses and cuttlefish — animals for which there is growing scientific consensus supporting sentience. If giant squid share similar neural complexity, deep-sea bycatch capture may involve genuine suffering. The extreme pressure change during trawl haul-up from depth also likely causes rapid physiological trauma. The precautionary principle suggests treating their potential welfare as a serious consideration.