Scientists say they are 'deeply concerned' over plans for the world's first octopus farm, where a million of the animals would be raised every year. The farm in the Canary Islands would raise octopuses for food, according to documents seen by the BBC.
Octopuses have never been intensively farmed and scientists call the proposals by company Nueva Pescanova "cruel."
Octopuses eaten around the world are usually wild caught using pots, lines and traps. They have never been farmed before because the larvae only eat live food in a carefully controlled environment, which could not be replicated until 2019.
Octopuses are solitary creatures used to the dark, but the BBC says the plan involves keeping multiple octopuses in tanks under constant light. The company says up to 15% of the octopuses would die during the farming process.
They would be killed by being put in containers of water kept at -3C, according to the documents.
The BBC says studies have shown that this method of slaughtering fish causes a slow, stressful death.
Some supermarkets have already moved away from selling fish that have been killed using ice, including Tesco and Morrisons.
Currently, there are no welfare rules in place, as octopuses have never been commercially farmed before.
Professor Peter Tse, a neurologist at Dartmouth University, told the BBC that "to kill them with ice would be a slow death … it would be very cruel and should not be allowed."
He said octopuses are "as intelligent as cats"
Octopuses have been defined as 'sentient' as studies show they experience pleasure and pain, as well as stress.
In a statement to the BBC, Nueva Pescanova said: "The levels of welfare requirements for the production of octopus or any other animal in our farming farms guarantee the correct handling of the animals. The slaughter, likewise, involves proper handling that avoids any pain or suffering to the animal ..."
The USA is already considering banning farmed octopus. Compassion in World Farming is asking the Government is Spain to block construction of the farm.
