Animal advocacy group calls for Government transparency and action on World Octopus Day.
On World Octopus Day, New Zealand animal advocacy group Animals Aotearoa is calling on the Government to stop funding research into octopus farming and commit to banning the practice altogether, following the release of concerning new undercover footage and an international report exposing the problematic global expansion of this cruel new industry.
The new footage, released today by Compassion in World Farming, shows octopuses being forcibly submerged in icy water – taking up to ten minutes to die. It also shows the octopuses struggling to escape. This method, which causes prolonged agony, is likely to be used in the world’s first proposed commercial octopus farm in Spain.
“Octopuses are highly intelligent, emotional animals who can feel pain and stress,” said Animals Aotearoa Executive Director, Marianne Macdonald.
“They can taste with their arms, sense light through their skin, and solve puzzles for fun. Seeing them die in such slow, cruel ways is unbearable. It’s horrifying to think that right now, research in New Zealand is helping make this kind of factory farming possible.”
Animals Aotearoa has joined NGOs around the world in signing a new global pledge, organised by Compassion in World Farming, to ‘Keep Them Wild’, to signal their support to ban octopus farming and stop the unsustainable expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.
NZ research cloaked in secrecy
Animals Aotearoa has been investigating the extent of New Zealand’s involvement in developing octopus farming, with University of Auckland researchers conducting experiments on the Gloomy octopus – the species being studied for potential commercial farming.
Despite repeated efforts, the group says it has faced “blocks at every turn” in its attempts to uncover how much public money is being used and whether new funding is planned.
“This year alone, we’ve sent eight Official Information Act requests to multiple agencies – including the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry for the Environment, the Minister responsible for Animal Welfare, the University of Auckland, and MBIE’s Endeavour Fund,” said Macdonald.
“This whole issue smells very fishy. Those involved are being very cagey about admitting what they’re doing. Some OIA requests were ignored for months, others came back heavily redacted, and in some cases, the university only replied through legal advisors. Some responses contradicted each other. A lot of effort is being put into hiding the truth.”
Animals Aotearoa says one major research grant for octopus farming is due to expire, yet OIA responses both deny and confirm that the work is continuing.
“We’ve had to piece together conflicting answers like a puzzle,” said Macdonald. “Officials say they’re not seeking new funding, but other documents describe the research as successful and ongoing. So where is the money coming from? And why is MBIE refusing to say if more octopus research funding is being sought?”
The organisation has now lodged a formal complaint with the Ombudsman challenging MBIE’s refusal to release information.
Global report warns of devastating consequences
Coinciding with the footage, a new global report, The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture, released by Compassion in World Farming, warns that octopus farming would have catastrophic impacts on animal welfare, food security, and marine ecosystems.
Key findings include:
- Farmed octopuses could consume up to 90,700 tonnes of wild fish annually by 2040 – the equivalent of seven billion fish.
- The world’s first proposed octopus farm in Spain could use two billion fish in its first year just to feed the octopuses.
- Feed for such farms would come from wild-caught fish in West Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, threatening the food security and livelihoods of coastal communities.
“Octopus farming is not sustainable – it’s a shameful and misguided step backwards,” said Macdonald. “It would devastate wild fish populations, exploit animals fully capable of emotion and intelligence, and create yet another cruel, factory-farming industry. We need to stop this before it starts.”
Call for Government action
Animals Aotearoa is urging the New Zealand Government to:
- Stop funding research to develop octopus farming.
- Publicly rule out ever approving commercial octopus farming in Aotearoa, as well as experimental/pilot farms; and
- Commit to transparency about how public funds are used for animal-based research.
“New Zealand has an opportunity to lead; to say we will not pursue or support this kind of cruelty,” said Macdonald. “Octopuses belong in the ocean, not in factory farms.”
Members of the public are encouraged to take action this World Octopus Day by emailing the Government at animalsaotearoa.org/stop-octopus-factory-farming.