Climate Change and Octopus Farms

Claim: Octopuses have better adaptation abilities to climate change since the world’s first octopus farm is not bad.   

We have witnessed some posts in social media and also the social narrations stating above mentioned claim. So, we decided to investigate about the proposed world`s first octopus farms and climate adaptations of the octopus beings.

What we found:

Octopus adaptation capacity to climate change and their biological state

Octopuses are mollusks that live in the sea and have complex cardiovascular and nervous systems. The interesting fact is an Octopus has 3 hearts and 9 brains. One brain is located in the organism’s head, and the others are distributed across its eight arms. Octopuses can be found in every ocean of the world.

Most octopuses stay alive on the ocean floor, while some species live near the water’s surface known as pelagic. Other octopus species live in deep, dark waters, rising from below at dawn and dusk to search for food. Crabs, shrimps, and lobsters are their favorite foods.

Octopuses are highly adaptable creatures that have evolved a variety of strategies to survive in different environments. However, it is difficult to say whether they have better adaptation abilities to climate change compared to other species, as the effects of climate change on different species can vary depending on a number of factors, such as their natural habitats, food sources, and ability to tolerate changes in temperature, pH levels, and other environmental factors.

Octopuses are capable of problem-solving, mimicking their surroundings using color changes that take place within seconds, outwitting predatory sharks, discriminating individual humans, engaging in playful behaviour, and hunting in response to cooperative signals sent by fish.  This is because of the sophisticated nervous systems and large brains they have. More can be read here. Archived .Moreover, there is some complex behaviour of octopuses, such as using tools and solving puzzles, which suggest that they have a high degree of cognitive flexibility and adaptability.

We saw several comments on social media stating that eating intelligent animals will benefit humans.

A recent study at Walla Walla University and La Sierra University examined the effects of acidic water on octopuses.  The study was to assess the, “Impact of Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Elevated Seawater PCO₂ on Metabolic Rate and Hypoxia Tolerance in Octopus rubescens.”  In simple terms the study focused on the metabolic rate of octopuses exposed to water acidified by carbon dioxide, and the changes it made. The results of the research suggested “octopuses may be better able to withstand changes in ocean-acidity levels, which may have long-term bearings on our understanding of climate change.” More can be read here Archived

However, it is worth noting that climate change is a complex and multi-faceted issue that affects many different species differently. When it comes to octopuses warmer temperatures generally allow octopus babies to develop and hatch out faster because it increases metabolic processes. In colder waters, eggs incubate for a longer time and babies develop slowly and healthily. Warming oceans are a direct result of climate change and this interacts with other factors, such as habitat loss, and pollution, making unpredictable outcomes. Bottom of Form

How ocean waste impact Octopuses and Climate Change.

Ocean waste, including plastics, chemicals, and other pollutants, can have a significant impact on both climate change and the environment, including  octopuses and other marine species. Ocean waste can contribute to climate change in a number of ways, by releasing greenhouse gases, altering the pH and chemical composition of seawater, disrupting ocean ecosystems and the carbon cycle leading to ocean suffocation.

Octopuses, in particular, may be vulnerable to the effects of ocean waste due to their sensitivity to changes in water quality and their reliance on a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem. The accumulation of pollutants and the disruption of food chains can have cascading effects on octopuses and other species, potentially leading to a decline in populations and negative impacts on the functioning of the ecosystems. Furthermore, chemical pollutants can also accumulate in the tissues of marine animals, potentially affecting their growth, reproduction, and survival.

What goes on in an Octopus farm.

Annual global demand for octopus is more than doubled from 1980 to 2019, from roughly 180,000 to about 370,000 tons. To supply to this demand people have started commercially breeding octopuses. Octopus farming is a questionable industry. As naturally solitary animals, octopuses would not fare well in crowded conditions and high stocking densities that are typical of factory farm systems. Additionally, their carnivorous diets would be unsustainable in a farming environment. Overfishing is a global crisis we are facing right now. Fish farming is in economically high demand. Approximately 20-25% of all wild-caught fish are used to make fishmeal and oil–feed for carnivorous farmed fish. Unfortunately, as octopuses are carnivorous, industries are now focused on emerging feeds for farmed octopuses based on the use of fishmeal and fish oil. This disturbs the natural balance of the ecosystems and severely affects marine biodiversity.

On the other hand, this would place additional pressure on wild fish populations which are suitable for human consumption. It also means that octopus farming would contribute to further food insecurity in regions such as West Africa, Southeast Asia and South America where the main industrial fishmeal factories are located. Unfortunately, a scientifically validated method for the humane slaughter of octopuses has not yet been discovered.

Conclusion

Octopuses are intelligent creatures that have several adaptable capabilities yet most of them are in the process of research. However, warming temperature leads to octopus egg hatchling and acidic water cause significant damage. Ocean pollution leads to habitat loss and poisonous conditions for these sensitive animals. In addition, there are several concerns with octopus farming and the welfare of other species when maintaining industrial octopus farms. Since octopuses also face several challenges due to climate change we can’t say octopus farming is a good concept. On the other hand, reducing single-use plastics, increasing recycles and reused of materials, and promoting responsible fishing and aquaculture practices can minimize ocean waste and save octopuses and other marine species.