How you can help

Keep Them Wild

Octopus farming is a powerful symbol of a wider threat: the reckless expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.

New footage shows octopuses dying slowly in ice slurry, the method industry giant Nueva Pescanova plans to use on an industrial scale. Scientists condemn it as inhumane. There is no humane slaughter method for octopuses, and no legislation exists to protect them.

Octopuses are intelligent, sentient animals who belong in the wild. Farming them in barren tanks would cause immense suffering and strip them of their natural lives.

And the problem doesn’t stop there. Our new report, The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture, shows that this already harmful industry is expanding.

Octopus farming poses a grave threat to food security and marine ecosystems. Nueva Pescanova’s proposed farm in Spain alone could consume 2 billion wild fish in its first year (up to 28,000 tonnes) rising to 7 billion by 2040 (up to 90,700 tonnes).

Farming carnivorous species, such as octopus, which rely heavily on wild-caught fish, has a tremendous impact on marine ecosystems. Many of the wild-caught fish used to feed these farmed species come from regions with limited sustainable fishing practices and vulnerable communities.

Over the last four decades, 78 new species have been introduced to European aquaculture, and nearly 70% of them depend on feeds made from wild-caught fish, adding even more pressure to our oceans.

The future does not look brighter: the report estimates that production of carnivorous and omnivorous species across Europe could rise by nearly one-third by 2040, with demand for fish feed climbing by up to 70%. This expansion could further deplete our oceans, worsen food insecurity, and increase the environmental impact of industrial aquaculture.

That’s why we are calling on governments and the EU to pledge to Keep Them Wild, by supporting:

Legislation to ban octopus farming
No expansion of farming to new carnivorous species
A gradual phase-out of wild-caught fish as an ingredient in aquafeeds

Policymakers need to hear your voice. Acting is simple; just a few clicks can send a powerful message to EU decision-makers - starting with Denmark’s Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen - urging them to pledge to Keep Them Wild and protect sentient, wild octopuses from unnecessary suffering.

Preview your message before sending your email.

Your voice can help stop this cruelty before it spreads further and protect the oceans, we all depend on.

Email Jacob Jensen & the EU Council today

Why Jacob Jensen?

Denmark recognised the welfare risks of octopus farming in its 2024 animal-welfare agreement and Denmark also holds the EU presidency until the end of 2025. A commitment from Minister Jacob Jensen can signal Danish leadership in the EU, help build momentum for an EU-wide ban, and encourage other Member States to take the same stand.

Why the pledge matters

Public support: Signing is a clear stand against octopus farming and destructive aquaculture, based on the unsustainable use of natural resources.
Momentum: Each pledge adds to international pressure, paving the way for national bans and an EU-wide prohibition.
Solutions: Pledges support sustainable alternatives such as the faming of low-trophic species (mussels, seaweed) and innovative feeds that don’t deplete wild fish populations.

Together, pledges create the political will needed to stop cruelty before it spreads.

Email Leaders to Sign the Pledge

Millions of octopuses could suffer in octopus farms

EMAIL JACOB JENSEN DANISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER & THE EU COUNCIL TODAY

Send your urgent message to Jacob Jensen, Danish Agriculture Minister, who currently holds the presidency of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, urging him to pledge to Keep Them Wild and support legislation to ban octopus farming, halt the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture, and phase out wild-caught fish as an ingredient in aquafeeds.

First Name

Last Name

Country

Email Address

Phone Number

By phone:

Yes, I am in

By Text Message:

Yes, I am in

Most recently signed

Subject: Urgent Appeal: Pledge to Keep Them Wild

Dear Minister Jensen,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the expansion of octopus farming and the wider spread of carnivorous aquaculture.

New footage shows octopuses dying slowly in ice slurry, the slaughter method planned for industrial farms. Scientists condemn this practice as inhumane. There are no humane slaughter methods for octopuses, and no legislation exists to protect them.

At the same time, Compassion in World Farming’s new report, The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture, revealed that this issue goes far beyond octopuses. The industry is expanding in unsustainable and catastrophic ways, deepening natural resource depletion, undermining marine ecosystems, and threatening global food security.

The report highlights the systemic risks that many governments and the EU are not addressing:

The world’s first octopus farm proposed by Spanish company Nueva Pescanova, could require up to 2 billion wild-caught fish (28,000 tonnes) in its first year for feed, the report predicts. By 2040, this could increase to 7 billion (90,700 tonnes).
In 2022, farmed aquatic animals reached 94 million tonnes, overtaking wild capture (91 million tonnes) for the first time.
Farming carnivorous species (salmon, trout, seabass, seabream, octopus) is driving unsustainable reliance on fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO).
Across Europe, production of carnivorous and omnivorous species could rise by nearly one-third by 2040, with FMFO demand climbing by up to 70%.
The UK, Greece, and Spain are expected to produce the highest levels of carnivorous aquaculture production by 2040 after Norway.
Since 1985, 78 new species have been introduced into European aquaculture — 70% of which require animal protein in feed.
Spain is leading this expansion: in 2020 it sourced FMFO from 26 countries, many linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Malta and Spain will have the highest projected use of forage fish in FMFO for the projected increase in Atlantic bluefin tuna production.

Octopus farming would be cruel, unnecessary, and unsustainable. These plans are part of a wider threat posed by carnivorous aquaculture.

I therefore urge you to pledge to Keep Them Wild by supporting legislation to ban octopus farming, limit the expansion of farming new carnivorous species, and gradually phase-out the use of wild-caught fish in aquafeeds.

By making this pledge, you will send a clear signal that the EU is ready to draw ethical lines, protect animal welfare where no protections exist, and prevent aquaculture from expanding in harmful and unsustainable ways. This is a chance for the EU to demonstrate leadership and help shape a food system that safeguards animals, ecosystems, and food security for generations to come.

Sincerely,

[Your full name]

[Your country]

Close preview