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Octopus farming: imminent threat to marine life

La octopus farming it presents both a breakthrough for science and a danger to the sea. The researchers who made it possible assure that its benefits will be large and that we will be able to protect the species. Meanwhile, other scientists accuse them of solving a problem creating others. Let's discover the keys to this marine animal, whose breeding has been slow 60 years if possible. Will big companies like Pescanova put it up for sale?

Unprecedented find

A team of scientists from Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) of the Canary Islands and Vigo achieved in 2018 something unthinkable. Until then, an octopus had never been raised from larvae to adulthood. They did it after 60 years of rehearsals. So they began to shuffle over the business possibilities that offered this novel finding. These focused on the food sector. The idea was to put the fish farms Spanish companies underway from this year, although the health crisis has postponed it.

Baby octopus
Octopus breeding / Source: @JuliioContreras

But why is, or was, so difficult raise an octopus? For his high mortality before reaching adulthood. The studios worked until two years ago feeding the baby octopus with crab larvae. It was costly and, in addition, it was difficult to synchronize the reproduction cycle of the two species. Said scientific team changed the food protocol for an unspecified one. A 65% survival was achieved, since most managed to settle in the environment. They trust that these pulpits also advance research in stem cells.

La biggest advantage what would the baby octopus is that we could consume it without depleting it. Lately the catches of this animal in the wild have descended. Therefore, we could ensure your availability on the market while lowering product prices. All this without any need to import it from other places such as Morocco and Sáhara Occidental, where the majority come from. Its massive production opens the door to many economic opportunities. We are talking about an animal widely consumed throughout the world.

An octopus in its environment
An octopus in its environment

Is octopus farming ethical?

The ethical dilemma comes when four scientists and philosophers sign an essay in 2019. It is focused on the case of Spain although they also treat others such as those of Greece, Portugal, Mexico or China. These countries pursue the same end. Said manifesto calls for the immediate cessation of the investigations because they represent a danger to the marine balance. They claim that the amounts of fish these cephalopods need to live are colossal.

If they were raised so industrial octopus catches would be reduced. However, multitudes of fish and crustaceans would be wiped out to feed them. The decline of marine life that exists today would be aggravated. The pressure on the environment would increase. They consider that the breeding of a carnivorous animal like this goes in the opposite direction to guarantee the food sovereignty. The world's human population is increasing and it would be counterproductive to focus on a food that consumes so many resources.

Octopus tentacles on a plate
Octopus tentacles on a plate / Source: Pixabay

Very clever mollusks

Another important factor is the well-being of the cephalopods. These are part of a species extremely intelligent which requires Cognitive stimulation. They need to move, explore, manipulate, and interact with their environment. Intensive farming is not usually compatible with these activities. 

They are animals with an enormous capacity for solving problems. A good example is their ability to build shelters out of coconut shells. Also, as time passes, they keep remembering the strategies that were useful to them. They have very good the memory. The octopus farming could mean the death of many by Stress, in addition to a multitude of injury among them.

By way of conclusion, one could warn about the peligro that this activity entails. What responsible society y empathic we can understand the serious consequences that octopus farming. Let's be honest, the octopus is not critical to our survival. We can simply protect the species by reducing its consumption and its catches. A plausible option is to replace it from time to time with poton. This is a squid species that abounds in the seas. Its flavor is so similar that in some restaurants they strain it ... pretending to be an octopus.

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