Campaigners Seek To End Public Funding Of 'Cruel' Octopus Farming

BERLIN, Oct 20 (Bernama-dpa) - Clever and agile enough to navigate mazes, change colour, use tools, open jars and seemingly recognise different people, the octopus is surely one of nature’s most alluring and enigmatic creatures.

But octopuses are being subjected to "cruel and unsustainable" farming, according to Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), which has published data showing governments around the world are spending millions of dollars of public funds on the practice.

Spain stands accused of splashing out almost €10 million (US$10.9 million) on farming octopus, with almost half the outlay coming from the European Union, while Australia, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand were among the other countries named as having their tentacles around the practice, the German news agency (dpa) reported.

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However, as "information about public funding of projects is often not freely available", according to CIWF, the real spend could be higher.

CIWF said it had sent a letter to Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asking that his government stop funding the farms. 

The request follows the US states of California and Washington banning octopus farming and comes alongside a campaign in the US for federal-level prohibition.

CIWF and Eurogroup for Animals, another non-governmental organisation, say there is strong public support for ensuring only "sustainable" aquaculture and fish farming be permitted.

Octopuses are particularly unsuitable for the practice, CWF said, as they are "highly intelligent and naturally solitary wild animals".

The campaign has been backed by actor Alan Cumming, who described the public funding for octopus farming as "shocking" and demanded that the "cruel and environmentally damaging" practice be ended.

-- BERNAMA-dpa