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 methods, 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 spending almost €10 million (US$10.9 million) on octopus farming, with almost half the outlay coming from the European Union. Australia, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand were among the other countries named as having their tentacles around the practice.
However, as “information about public funding of projects is often not freely available”, according to CIWF, the real amount could be higher.
CIWF sent a letter to Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, asking that his government stop funding the farms.
