Proposals for octopus aquaculture raise profound welfare questions given the high cognitive complexity and sentience of octopuses, which may make farming them ethically unjustifiable.
The proposal to farm octopuses commercially raises some of the most challenging welfare questions in aquaculture ethics. Octopuses are widely recognised as among the most cognitively sophisticated invertebrates, with rich behavioural repertoires, apparent emotional states, and individual personalities. Their solitary nature means that high-density farming would inevitably cause severe aggression and stress. The welfare needs of such complex animals are poorly understood and very difficult to meet in farming conditions. The precautionary principle strongly suggests that commercial octopus farming should not proceed until welfare can be adequately demonstrated.