Cephalopod Welfare – Briefing Note

The seafood industry has responded to the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 by taking steps to develop guidance for businesses at all stages of the supply chain to protect the welfare of decapod shellfish. To date, there has been limited focus on cephalopods – including octopus, cuttlefish and squid – and cephalopod welfare. This project sought to address this gap by collating and analysing relevant data and information to inform any future industry response or action in relation to cephalopod welfare. The project examined the issues surrounding cephalopod welfare relevant to UK waters and produce a briefing note for Seafish. The project approach involved: an inception meeting; literature review; analysis; and reporting.