Nueva Pescanova withdraws from its octopus farm project in Spain after five years, citing environmental and regulatory challenges.
Nueva Pescanova, which was preparing to establish the world's first commercial octopus farm in Spain, has withdrawn from the project that has been ongoing for five years. The facility, which was planned to produce approximately 3,000 tons of octopus annually, had long been debated due to environmental impacts, animal welfare concerns, and scientific findings indicating that octopuses can feel pain.
An unexpected development has occurred in the octopus farm project planned to be implemented in Spain's Canary Islands, which would have been a world first.
Nueva Pescanova has officially withdrawn its application for the commercial octopus farm it planned to establish at the Port of Las Palmas. Thus, the process that began in 2021 has come to an end after five years, and the facility has now faded into history. However, this decision does not mean that octopus farming is banned in Spain.
The company explained that the decision stemmed from commercial and regulatory reasons. It was stated that the new administrative conditions imposed by the Canary Islands Environmental Assessment Commission significantly altered the project's scope, timeline, and regulatory obligations.
Environmental risks have come to the forefront.
Initially, the project was subjected to a simpler environmental review. However, as the process progressed, it was decided that a more comprehensive environmental assessment would be conducted.
The environmental documents reviewed highlighted risks such as potential odor issues at the nearby passenger terminal and the possibility that organic waste could negatively affect water quality in the port.
The facility planned to be established in the Canary Islands aimed to produce approximately 3,000 tons of octopus annually. The products were intended to be offered to both the Spanish market and international markets.
The company had previously claimed that it had developed conditions under which octopuses could live together without exhibiting aggression in captivity. It was also noted that researchers from Nueva Pescanova had raised five generations of octopuses at their research center in Galicia.
However, the project's massive production capacity further intensified the debates surrounding octopus intelligence and animal welfare.
What do proponents of aquaculture say?
On the other side of the debate are the increasing consumption levels and the natural octopus stocks.
Eduardo Almansa from the Spanish Oceanography Institute previously stated to Reuters that natural fishing has reached its limits and argued that aquaculture should be considered as an alternative if current octopus consumption levels continue.
An Oscar-winning documentary changed the perception of octopuses.
The 2020 Netflix documentary 'My Octopus Teacher' played a significant role in raising societal awareness about octopus intelligence and behavior.
The production, which focuses on the extraordinary relationship between a wild octopus and a human, won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2021. Among those who stated they stopped eating octopus after watching the documentary was billionaire businessman Richard Branson.
The project has been canceled, but...
While environmental and animal rights advocates welcomed the withdrawal of the project, the decision does not stem from a ban imposed across Spain.
Although a bill proposing to ban octopus farming was processed in parliament in June 2025, it has not yet become law.
There is also no specific animal welfare legislation for commercially farmed mollusks in the European Union. In contrast, live cephalopods used in scientific research are protected under EU legislation.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
