Octopus farming - that's a NO!

VAWA
May 20
2 min read

Updated: May 23

Octopus farming is intensive farming of sentient beings.

VAWA is against all forms of intensive farming involving sentient beings that are caged, crammed and confined. Animals farmed in these conditions cannot display normal behaviours, so cannot have 'a good life.'

Octopus farming is an intensive farming practice, and therefore VAWA stands alongside local and global science-based animal welfare organisations and their collective calls for a ban on octopus farming.

**Octopus farming: “This is a symbol of what humans should not be doing in the 21st century.”**

Our ask.

Specifically, in Aotearoa New Zealand, VAWA is calling on the New Zealand Government to

enforce a preemptive ban on octopus farming, and
stop public investment into research connected to octopus farming via the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Endeavour Fund. Whilst the Endeavour Fund is not inviting applications to the 2026 funding round, currently funded projects are eligible for assessment and potential extension. There should be no extension of funds that support octopus farming.

Why VAWA signed an Open Letter calling for a ban.

1 - octopus are sentient

VAWA is a veterinary-led, science-backed, and independent, charity that advocates for robust animal welfare standards for all animals in Aoteaora.

VAWA strongly supports the Five Domains model of animal welfare assessment as a comprehensive, science-structured way of considering the welfare of an individual or group of animals in a particular situation.

Animal sentience was explicitly recognised in the 2015 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act (1999), which includes 'any octopus' in its interpretation of 'animal.'

Section 2 Interpretation, Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Being sentient means an animal's lived experience matters to them, and they may have a range of feelings about it, including if they are confined, and not able to express normal behaviours.

Octopus Sentience

Having reviewed more than 300 scientific studies, the London School of Economics (LSE) Report acknowledges the very strong evidence of sentience in octopus. They also acknowledge that octopus are solitary animals that, when confined, are often aggressive towards each other. Due to those legacy behaviours (and more), the LSE concludes that high-welfare octopus farming is impossible. You can read the report for more.

LSE - Review of Evidence

2 - Papatūānuku's welfare matters

VAWA embraces the concepts of One Health, One Welfare, and te ao Māori that are underpinned by respect and reciprocity for the natural world. All in the natural world is connected – when it is cared for, so is our prosperity.

This means VAWA also stands by local and global environmental groups regarding their concerns about the environmental degradation that is invariably connected to and created by octopus farming.