Octopus farming is 'unethical and a threat to the food chain'

[Eugene]

Source: The Observer

Octopus farming is ‘unethical and a threat to the food chain’

Mass-breeding of the highly intelligent creatures is ecologically unjustified, a new study says

Robin McKie
Sun 12 May 2019 05.59 BST

Plans to create octopus farms in coastal waters round the world have been denounced by an international group of researchers. They say the move is ethically inexcusable and environmentally dangerous, and have called on private companies, academic institutions and governments to block funding for these ventures.

The researchers say that farming octopuses would require the catching of vast amounts of fish and shellfish to feed them, putting further pressure on the planet’s already threatened marine livestock.

The group, led by Professor Jennifer Jacquet of New York University, argues that octopuses are highly intelligent, curious creatures. Farming them intensively would probably cause large numbers of deaths from stress. “We can see no reason why, in the 21st century, a sophisticated, complex animal should become the source of mass-produced food,” Jacquet told the Observer. “Octopuses eat fish and shellfish, and supplying enough to feed large numbers of them puts further pressure on the food chain. It is unsustainable. Octopus factory farming is ethically and ecologically unjustified.”

There are about 300 species of octopus and many behave in surprisingly sophisticated ways. Some have been shown to use tools, for example. In one experiment, scientists observed octopuses building shelters from pieces of coconut shell. “Once octopuses have solved a problem, they retain long-term memory of the solution,” the researchers state in a paper in Issues in Science and Technology.

But octopuses are also a culinary delicacy. About 350,000 tonnes are caught every year and served in restaurants from Spain to Chile and from Mexico to Australia. ...

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/12/octopus-farming-unethical-and-threat-to-food-chain

[Ghost Dog]

1. "... No reason why sophisticated, complex animal should become a source of mass-produced food..."

... Debate in Arcturan Planetary Senate, contemplating human life on planet Sol System Earth...

[Big Blue Marble]

2. Thank you for posting this article.

When people understand what complex highly intelligent animals, octopus are, most will
choose not to eat them. They are amazing delightful beings.