Octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish have become important subjects of welfare research as evidence for their sophisticated cognition and pain responses has strengthened dramatically.
Cephalopod welfare science has advanced faster than regulatory response. The UK's 2022 decision to include cephalopods in animal welfare legislation represents a watershed - acknowledging that animals without vertebrate nervous systems can nonetheless have morally significant experiences. Research welfare regulations now apply, but commercial fisheries remain unregulated for cephalopod welfare. The capture and death of squid and cuttlefish in commercial fisheries involves asphyxiation and injury without welfare consideration. The philosophical and practical implications of taking cephalopod welfare seriously are profound - these animals are caught and eaten in enormous quantities globally.