Nueva Pescanova Cancels World's First Octopus Farm Project in Spain

Spanish multinational Nueva Pescanova has withdrawn its application to build the world’s first commercial octopus farm in the port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. The proposed facility, valued at over €50 million, would have produced up to a million octopuses a year and required roughly 2 billion fish for feed in its first year, raising serious animal‑welfare and environmental concerns.

Animal‑rights groups, including Compassion in World Farming and PETA, ran a multi‑year campaign that mobilised thousands of emails and public pressure. The campaign highlighted that “the project would have crammed intelligent, sensitive octopuses into desolate tanks… causing immense stress, injuries, aggression and even cannibalism.” Regulatory hurdles and new environmental assessment requirements also stalled the project. On July 23, the Las Palmas port authority confirmed the company’s formal request to abandon the concession, and Nueva Pescanova cited “commercial and regulatory considerations” for the decision.

The cancellation is hailed by activists as a victory for marine wildlife protection and a signal that public pressure can halt controversial aquaculture initiatives.