As commercial octopus farming moves toward reality, scientists and welfare advocates are raising serious concerns about the welfare implications of confining these highly intelligent animals.
The prospect of commercial octopus farming represents a significant welfare concern at scale. Octopuses are demonstrably intelligent, curious animals that require complex environments and individual space. Factory farming of octopuses would confine them in conditions antithetical to their nature. Unlike some other aquaculture species, no welfare-compatible commercial farming model currently exists for octopuses. This case may represent a clear argument against proceeding with farming a species whose welfare requirements are incompatible with commercial production.