Key news: Nueva Pescanova informed the Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas that it was withdrawing the procedure for awarding a concession for an aquaculture facility at Puerto de La Luz y de Las Palmas . The port authority announced that it would close the case file, which had been open since May 2021. The company cites “commercial and regulatory” reasons, including changed conditions and additional requirements from the Comisión Autonómica de Evaluación Ambiental. Nueva Pescanova also stresses that its withdrawal does not mean octopus farming is inherently technically or environmentally impossible. The case concerns Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Islas Canarias.
Background: The project became public in 2021. In 2022, Nueva Pescanova said it was planning an investment of around 65 million euros, with the aim of building what would be the world’s first industrial octopus farm, together with a processing plant, near the port. Earlier plans envisaged producing up to 3,000 tonnes of octopus a year.
Controversy: The plan faced opposition from the outset. Researchers and animal welfare and environmental organisations criticised scientific uncertainties around keeping cephalopods, ethical questions given the cognitive abilities attributed to octopuses, and potential environmental impacts. NGOs such as AnimaNaturalis, FAADA and CIWF organised campaigns and submissions opposing approval of the project.
Procedure: In recent years, the decisive factors have been administrative reviews and, in particular, the environmental impact assessment required by the Comisión Autonómica de Evaluación Ambiental. Reports and notices have repeatedly pointed out that the requirements changed during the process. According to the company, these changes contributed to its withdrawal. The formal step brings the specific concession procedure in Las Palmas to an end; it does not rule out the company trying again elsewhere or with adapted technology.
Assessment and outlook: Spain currently has no specific ban on industrial octopus farms. Associations are now calling for legislation to clarify animal welfare and environmental standards for keeping cognitively complex marine animals, or for such facilities to be prohibited outright. Nueva Pescanova cites commercial and procedural reasons; no statements have been made about new projects or locations. The debate is therefore likely to shift from a single proposal to the general criteria for octopus farming in Spain.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).