World's first octopus farm stirs ethical debate

An octopus is seen inside a pond of the Spanish Oceanography Institute IEO in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Borja Suarez.

MADRID (Reuters) - Spurred on by soaring demand for seafood, a Spanish company plans to open the first commercial octopus farm next year but as scientists discover more about the enigmatic animals some warn it could be an ethical and environmental disaster.

"This is a global milestone," said Roberto Romero, aquaculture director at Nueva Pescanova, the company pouring 65 million euros ($74 million) into the farm, which is pending environmental approval from local authorities.