- 160 organizations are calling on ANID and FONDEF to halt funding for research targeting octopus farms.
- Since 1983, more than $2.400 billion has been allocated; a recent project by Universidad Austral exceeded $80 million.
- They warn about animal welfare (high levels of senility, mortality, lack of humane slaughter) and environmental risks (waste, antibiotics, pressure on fisheries).
- The letter proposes not approving new lines of intensive farming, strengthening bioethics, and redirecting funds toward sustainable science; the debate is growing internationally.
A wide network of animal protection and environmental organizations has asked Chile halt the push for intensive octopus farming, an activity that is gaining ground in the country's research agenda.
The request, promoted by more than 160 organizations articulated in the Aquatic Animal Alliance, was sent to the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) and the Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development (FONDEF) to suspend public funding for studies aimed at consolidating octopus farms and redirect resources toward more sustainable alternatives.
A broad front against octopus farms
Under the Save the Octopus campaign, groups from Chile and other countries point out that intensive farming projects They ignore scientific recommendations on the high capacity of these animals to feel and perceiveThe letter maintains that captive breeding is not compatible with their biology and current welfare standards.
The signatory entities affirm that octopuses are very intelligent beings, of solitary and sensitive habits; his confinement It causes stress and aggressive behavior that can lead to cannibalism.They add that there are no fully humane slaughter protocols and that keeping them in intensive systems often leads to high mortality rates.
Public money at the center of the debate
According to data collected by the organizations, since 1983 the Chilean State has invested more than $2.400 billion pesos in researching octopus farming. Among the precedents is a recent project implemented by the Universidad Austral de Chile with funding exceeding $80 million.
A report by Compassion in World Farming International places Chile among the six countries with the greatest investment commitment in this line of research. For the signatories, this requires reviewing priorities and evaluating the use of public resources in light of ethical, scientific, and sustainability criteria.
Reasons: animal welfare and environmental risks
In terms of welfare, organizations emphasize that forcing solitary animals to live together in closed enclosures It promotes stress, aggression and episodes of cannibalismIt is emphasized that there are no accepted humane stunning and slaughter methods for the species, and that the difficulties in stabilizing life cycles in captivity result in high mortality.
In environmental terms, they warn of possible impacts from discharges and waste in coastal areas, the use and eventual abuse of antibiotics to contain pathogens, and the additional pressure on marine ecosystems associated with feeding octopuses with flour or proteins of animal origin.
What they request from ANID and FONDEF
The letter proposes concrete measures to channel the use of public funds in research, with an emphasis on bioethics and sustainability. Highlights include:
1) Refrain from approving New research proposals aimed at promoting intensive octopus farming.
2) Demand the strict compliance with bioethical guidelines in all publicly funded studies.
3) Promote the replacement of animal models by in vitro or in silico alternatives when possible.
4) Redirect funding towards sustainable, ethical and general interest lines of science.
International context
The debate is not exclusive to Chile: in 2024 more than a hundred researchers published a letter in the journal Science advising against octopus farms, and states like California and Washington have banned such facilities. The discussion combines ethical, scientific, and socio-environmental considerations.
Spokespeople for the alliance, such as veterinarian Catalina López, maintain that the country can lead with ethical and scientific coherence if it directs public money towards truly sustainable food systems that do not compromise ecosystems or animal welfare.
Focusing on how resources are used, the organizations are calling for a pause in intensive octopus farming and a review of priorities: reduce environmental and welfare risks, strengthen bioethical standards, and invest in research that provides long-term, sustainable food solutions.
