EU Commission Responds to 50,000-Signature Petition Against Octopus Farming

Species Unite has received a response from the European Commission to the petition we sent in the fall, calling on the Spanish Government and the European Union to ban octopus farming.

The incredible unity and determination that this community showed in speaking out on this issue allowed our petition to surpass 50,000 signatures and forced the European Commission to take notice!

Unfortunately, their response was not sufficient and shows us that they are not ready to do the right thing when it comes to protecting octopuses from becoming the next victims of factory farming. 

Their response stated in part:

“As regards animal welfare, as you mention in your letter, the existing animal welfare legislation is not applicable to invertebrate animal species and there are currently no EU rules for the protection of octopuses kept for farming purposes” 

They went on to note that the European Commission plans to look into this issue between now and 2030! That is unacceptable! Octopuses cannot wait that long when the threat of factory farming is getting closer every day. 

In response, we have launched a new petition demanding that the European Commission update their existing animal welfare legislation to cover invertebrate animal species, including octopuses. Please add your name.