In 2022, Nueva Pescanova announced its plans to build what would have been the world's first commercial octopus farm.
Photo: Nueva Pescanova.
Nueva Pescanova has submitted an official request to the Port Authority of Las Palmas (Canary Islands) to withdraw its application for the concession to build its octopus farm, according to Spanish media reports published last week.
According to the document, the company said its decision was driven solely by business and regulatory considerations resulting from the evolution of the administrative process.
In 2022, Nueva Pescanova announced its plans to build what would have been the world's first commercial octopus farm. The project involved an investment of €65 million and was expected to create 300 jobs, including 150 direct positions for highly qualified personnel and a further 150 indirect jobs.
A year later, the project faced its first setback as dozens of animal rights activists protested in Madrid, demanding its cancellation due to the lack of adequate octopus welfare regulations in Spain and the EU.
Regarding the current situation, Nueva Pescanova confirmed that the new requirements from the Regional Environmental Assessment Commission, including the need for a full environmental impact assessment, substantially changed the conditions, timelines and scope of the project.
Furthermore, according to the same media reports, the company stated that its withdrawal does not represent an acknowledgment that octopus farming is unfeasible, nor does it rule out the possibility of exploring other technical, environmental or location alternatives in the future.
Following these developments, the news agency Europa Press reported on the official statement from the Port Authority of Las Palmas, which confirmed that the 2021 administrative file would be archived, effectively ending the procedure for this specific project.
