Growing evidence of octopus intelligence and sentience is challenging assumptions about their welfare in commercial fishing, live markets, and potential aquaculture.
Octopus welfare in commercial fishing is almost entirely overlooked. Their capture, transport, and slaughter involve no welfare protections in most jurisdictions. Given evidence of pain experience, suffering at death matters. Humane slaughter methods (spiking or chilling) should be standard. Their solitary, exploratory nature makes intensive farming ethically problematic.