A new octopus hatchery near Moana in Galicia, northern Spain, has begun operations, reports Libre Mercado.

The facility, operated by Octolarvae -- a subsidiary of Grupo Profand -- received official approval from the Galician government on Jan. 14. The company has said the project is purely scientific, focusing on optimizing the larval stage of common octopus reproduction, without plans for commercial production.

Photo: Cooked octopus product by Profand.

Despite this, animal rights organizations like Eurogroup for Animals have launched campaigns opposing the initiative. They argue that such research could pave the way for large-scale octopus farming, which they consider unethical and unsustainable. 

Additionally, Galician mussel farmers joined a large protest against the project, which they say will impact water quality in the Arousa estuary, Diario de Arousa reported. 

Spanish seafood giant Nueva Pescanova previously attempted to establish the world's first commercial octopus farm in the Canary Islands in 2021, but it faced intense opposition and remains stalled.

The Moana facility, covering 350 square meters, features advanced technologies for cultivating microalgae, artemia, and phytoplankton, essential for larval nutrition.

Profand claims its research aims to reduce reliance on wild octopus catches and promote sustainability.