Growing threat of octopus farming and carnivorous aquaculture expansion exposed

Significant cost to food security, animal welfare and ecosystems revealed in shocking new report and undercover footage

GODALMING, United Kingdom, Oct. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Published on World Octopus Day, The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture warns of the disastrous implications for the marine environment, animal welfare, and food security of octopus farming and the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.  

The world’s first octopus farm proposed by Spanish company Nueva Pescanova, could require up to 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish in its first year, whilst only producing 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat. This is the equivalent of two billion individual fish used for feed, growing to a staggering seven billion fish by 2040.

Often touted as a fix for rising seafood demand, carnivorous aquaculture (feed-dependent aquatic animal farming) is putting an unsustainable strain on already overexploited wild fish stocks, the report exposes, and its expansion is exacerbating the problem.  

Expanding the industry, by introducing new species such as octopus, will weaken the resilience of marine ecosystems and global food security, it further finds. Feed for farmed fish and octopus would be taken from vital forage fisheries in West Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, posing a serious threat to local diets and livelihoods.

Key insights from the report include: 

• Farmed octopuses could consume up to 90,700 tonnes of wild fish annually by 2040, the equivalent of 7 billion fish, further straining overfished stocks
  
• Carnivorous aquaculture in the EU is projected to grow 30% by 2040 
• The demand for wild-caught fish in the EU could rise by 70% by 2040, to 2.5 million tonnes, up to 192 billion individual fish per year  
  
• Europe has added 78 new farmed species since 1985, 70% of them needing animal-based feeds 
  
• Spain sourced fish feed from 26 countries in 2020 - the widest network in Europe. 
  

The report names the countries contributing most to this increasing problem. In Europe, Norway is the top aquaculture producer followed by the UK, Germany, Spain and Denmark. These countries were also amongst the top exporters of fishmeal and fish oil, as was the Netherlands.  

To coincide with the report, the animal welfare and environmental NGO released new undercover footage of the cruel slaughter method Nueva Pescanova plans to use in its proposed first octopus farm in Gran Canaria, Spain. The footage of wild-caught octopuses shows the animals suffering slow and agonising deaths by being forcibly submerged in icy water, taking at least ten minutes to die.

To stop this damaging industry in its tracks, the NGO is urging policymakers to back a new global pledge to ‘Keep Them Wild’, to signal their support to ban octopus farming and stop the unsustainable expansion of carnivorous aquaculture. Members of the public are encouraged to ask their representatives, such - as MPs or MEPs - to sign the pledge, which is already backed by over 120 NGOs and experts across the globe including Peter Singer (Princeton University), Professor Lynne Sneddon (University of Gothenburg), Professor Jonathan Birch (London School of Economics).

Dr Elena Lara, Senior Research and Policy Adviser at Compassion in World Farming, said: 

“Carnivorous aquaculture is often sold as a quick fix for food security; yet in reality, it weakens food security.

“Its expansion into octopus farming would raid the plates of coastal communities in the Global South, feeding private profits and premium markets, instead of the people who need it the most. 
 
“What’s more, our footage clearly shows what we have always said - that it is simply not possible to slaughter farmed octopuses in a humane way. We must act now to keep octopuses wild, protect our oceans and food security.” 

For more information please email media.team@ciwf.org or call +44 (0)1483 521 615

Notes to Editors

1. Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food. With headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in the US, China and South Africa.  
2. To find out more about Compassion in World Farming visit: www.ciwf.org
3. The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture is available to read here
4. The campaign video will be live on YouTube on Wednesday 8 October here 
   

Lydia Urquhart
Compassion in World Farming
07967631085
lydia.urquhart@ciwf.org

Maria Ocaranza
Compassion in World Farming
marisu.ocaranza@ciwf.es

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