Octopuses demonstrate remarkable intelligence including problem-solving, tool use, and play behavior. This cognitive sophistication has implications for how they are treated in research and aquaculture.
Octopus welfare implications follow from their remarkable cognitive sophistication. Animals capable of tool use, play, and learning deserve welfare consideration commensurate with this capacity. Research involving octopuses requires ethical assessment and the welfare considerations of emerging octopus aquaculture need to be addressed before the industry scales. Consumer and researcher awareness of octopus cognitive sophistication is the foundation for appropriate welfare consideration.