Latest news with #NuevaPescanova
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Should humans industrialize creatures that can feel and suffer? Spain's octopus farm reignites debate and faces global backlash
With about 500 million neurons, Octopuses are considered among the most intelligent animals on Earth. However, a Spanish company's plan to open the world's first commercial octopus farm has triggered global outrage, with scientists, lawmakers, and activists calling it a disturbing step backward in animal welfare and environmental ethics. Nueva Pescanova , a prominent Spanish seafood firm, has proposed farming octopuses at an industrial scale in the Canary Islands to offset declining wild populations. They argue this would meet growing demand and reduce pressure on wild stocks. Also Read: Pacific Sleeper Sharks queue up to feed on cow in South China Sea; first-ever footage captures rare deep sea behavior by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More But the project has sparked widespread condemnation for attempting to mass-produce one of the ocean's most intelligent and least understood creatures. Live Events Are Octopuses fit for farming? Octopuses possess about 500 million neurons throughout the body. About two-thirds are in their arms, called mini-brains, giving each limb semi-independent control, which has stunned neuroscientists and animal behaviorists alike. The rest are in the doughnut-shaped brain, which is wrapped around the oesophagus and located in the octopus's head. Social media videos showed Octopuses unscrewing lids to escape tanks and even showing individual preferences. It would be controversial to imagine animals with this creative level being raised for slaughter and human consumption, but octopuses are consumed in most parts of the world, too. Many argue that octopuses are too sentient to be farmed at an industrial scale due to their complex intelligence and emotional behavior. The slaughter method Nueva Pescanova's method of killing, immersing live octopuses in ice slurry, has been widely condemned. Dr. Peter Tse, a cognitive neuroscientist, called the technique 'unacceptable,' pointing out that the method causes a slow and painful death. In addition, the company plans to keep 10 to 15 octopuses per cubic meter despite the animals being naturally solitary, raising concerns about aggression and cannibalism in such cramped conditions. The legality The backlash has already prompted political action. Washington state has banned octopus farming . US senators Lisa Murkowski and Sheldon Whitehouse have introduced the OCTOPUS Act , aiming to outlaw it nationwide and block imports of farm-raised octopus. In Spain, protests have erupted in Madrid, and growing pressure is mounting on the European Union to halt the farm's approval process, especially given the UK's legal recognition of octopus sentience in its Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. Environmental dilemma Nueva Pescanova argues the farm will help preserve wild populations, but critics disagree. Octopuses are carnivores, meaning they must be fed large quantities of fish, worsening the strain on already depleted marine stocks. 'This doesn't reduce pressure on oceans,' said one marine ecologist. 'It shifts the burden elsewhere in the food chain.' The debate goes beyond animal farming to a deeper ethical question: should humans industrialize creatures that can think, feel, and suffer? Cultural phenomena like My Octopus Teacher have further reshaped public perception, portraying octopuses as emotional and trusting beings unsuitable for farming.
Sustainability Times
04-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'This Should Never Have Happened': Scientists Horrified as World's First Octopus Farm Sparks Ethical and Ecological Uproar
IN A NUTSHELL 🐙 Octopus farming proposed by Nueva Pescanova raises ethical concerns due to the intelligence and sentience of these creatures. proposed by Nueva Pescanova raises ethical concerns due to the intelligence and sentience of these creatures. ⚖️ The killing method involving ice slurry has been criticized as inhumane, sparking global protests and legislative actions. has been criticized as inhumane, sparking global protests and legislative actions. 🌍 The environmental impact of farming carnivorous octopuses, which require significant fish resources, contradicts conservation efforts. 📚 Scientific insights into octopus intelligence challenge humanity to reconsider the moral implications of industrial farming practices. In recent years, the world has witnessed groundbreaking advancements in animal farming, but none have sparked as much controversy as the world's first commercial octopus farm. Proposed by Spanish seafood giant Nueva Pescanova, this venture aims to address the declining wild octopus populations by transitioning to aquaculture. However, the methods and ethical implications of farming such intelligent creatures have ignited a fiery debate among scientists, lawmakers, and the general public. This article delves into the complexities surrounding octopus farming, exploring the ethical dilemmas, scientific insights, and the global response to this controversial initiative. The Intellectual Marvels of Octopuses Octopuses are not just any marine creatures; they are often considered the closest thing to alien intelligence on Earth. With approximately 500 million neurons, comparable to a dog, these cephalopods exhibit behaviors that suggest a high level of cognitive sophistication. Notably, only one-third of their neurons are located in their brains, while the rest are distributed across their eight arms, allowing each arm to function with a degree of autonomy. This unique neural setup empowers octopuses to solve complex puzzles, use tools, and even learn through observation. Researchers have documented astonishing feats of octopus intelligence. For instance, an octopus named Otto at the Sea Star Aquarium in Germany famously shorted out the facility's power by squirting water at a bright spotlight, demonstrating a capacity for problem-solving and annoyance. Moreover, octopuses have been observed stacking rocks to construct dens and unscrewing jar lids from the inside, indicating their dexterity and ingenuity. These behaviors underscore the profound intelligence that makes the idea of farming octopuses a contentious issue. 'China Unleashes Flying Bike': Futuristic Hoverbike Hits 44.7 MPH and Flies 31 Miles in Shocking Public Debut Ethical Concerns and Animal Welfare The ethical considerations surrounding octopus farming are deeply rooted in the creature's demonstrated sentience. A comprehensive review by the London School of Economics concluded that octopuses are capable of experiencing pleasure and pain, leading the UK government to include them in its Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. This legal recognition makes octopuses the only invertebrates with such protection, emphasizing the need for ethical treatment. Nueva Pescanova's proposed farming conditions have raised alarms among animal welfare groups. The densely packed tanks, housing 10 to 15 octopuses per cubic meter, contradict their solitary nature, likely provoking aggression and cannibalism. Furthermore, the method of killing octopuses by submerging them in ice slurry is deemed inhumane, as it causes prolonged suffering before death. Such practices have been condemned by neuroscientists like Dr. Peter Tse, who argue that the slow, painful deaths inflicted by ice slurry are unacceptable for creatures of such advanced cognition. End of GPS Era: The Secret Rise of Atomic Clocks Signals a Military-Grade Revolution in Global Positioning and National Security The Global Backlash and Legislative Actions The response to Nueva Pescanova's plans has been swift and widespread. In Washington state, legislators have already banned octopus farming, citing both ethical and economic concerns. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Sheldon Whitehouse have introduced federal legislation, the OCTOPUS Act, to prohibit octopus farming nationwide and block imports of farmed octopus. This legislative push underscores a growing recognition of octopuses as smart, sentient creatures that do not belong in commercial farms. Internationally, the backlash is gaining momentum. The European Union, acknowledging octopuses' sentience, faces pressure to halt the Spanish facility. Protests have erupted in Madrid, reflecting the public's opposition to what many view as a new frontier in animal cruelty. As awareness of octopus intelligence and suffering spreads, the call for ethical treatment and conservation is resonating globally. 'World's Oldest Cat Drank Red Wine': This Bizarre Feline Habit Stuns Vets and Redefines Everything We Thought About Animal Longevity Scientific and Environmental Implications While Nueva Pescanova argues that octopus farming could alleviate pressure on wild populations, the environmental and scientific implications remain contentious. Octopuses are carnivores, requiring substantial amounts of fish to produce octopus meat, raising concerns about the sustainability of farming predatory species. Critics argue that this practice exacerbates existing pressures on already depleted fish stocks, contradicting conservation efforts. Moreover, the scientific community grapples with the moral dilemma of farming such intelligent beings. The recent documentary 'My Octopus Teacher' highlighted the emotional depth and trust-building capabilities of octopuses, challenging humanity's perception of these beings. As we unravel the genetic markers of intelligence shared between humans and octopuses, the question arises: should we exploit this knowledge for industrial gains or foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for these remarkable creatures? In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the world's first octopus farm underscores a critical juncture in our relationship with intelligent marine life. As scientific insights reveal the remarkable cognitive abilities of octopuses, the ethical and environmental implications of farming them become increasingly apparent. With legislative actions and public protests gaining momentum, the future of octopus farming hangs in the balance. Will humanity choose to prioritize ethical treatment and conservation, or will the lure of commercial gains prevail? The answer to this question may define our relationship with the natural world for generations to come. Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (26)
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Massachusetts lawmaker wants to ban octopus farms in the state. Here's what he has to say
NEW BEDFORD – State Rep. Chris Hendricks says he's not against enjoying a well-prepared dish featuring octopus but that the aquaculture farming of the brainy cephalopods would be unsuitable. The New Bedford Democrat's bill, H.127, would prohibit farming them for human consumption and would pack an up to $1,000-per-day penalty. It would also prohibit the sale of farmed octopus in Massachusetts. The law would not apply to wild-caught octopuses or octopuses raised for research purposes. Similar bans have been passed in Washington and California, and are being considered in Oregon, Hawaii, Connecticut and New Jersey. While there are no octopus farms in the United States yet, there is one proposed by Nueva Pescanova in Spain's Canary Islands that has stirred opposition. It would raise about 1 million octopuses per year in 1,000 indoor tanks. Hendricks testified on behalf of his bill before the Joint Committee on Agriculture on May 13, saying octopuses have been shown to possess rare sentience. They've demonstrated problem-solving skills, play activity, and long- and short-term memory. They have 500 million neurons that make up their brain, which are located throughout their bodies, Hendricks said. They also have a capacity for suffering that would be exacerbated by being raised in crowded, barren tanks. Critics of the proposed Canary Islands farm have said that octopuses are solitary creatures by nature, not meant to be jammed together. There are environmental consequences, as well. They excrete ammonia, which would require either space or immense amounts of water to flush out tanks. It would wreak havoc on the wild population, Hendricks added. For one thing, it would lower the price of octopus and spur overfishing. Hendricks said the committee seemed open to giving the bill a fair appraisal. 'This animal is for so many reasons unsuitable for that type of factory farming,' he said. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Rep. Hendricks: Factory farming intelligent octopi should be banned
