Aquaculture potential of the
common octopus (Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797): a review
P. Vaz-Pires, P. Seixas, A. Barbosa-2004
Aquaculture, 238: 221-238
Abstract:
The potential for aquaculture of the cephalopod
species Octopus vulgaris is evaluated, taking into consideration
biological and physiological characteristics, as well as some economic and
marketing aspects, which may be relevant for the future development of
octopus farming. O. vulgaris, a widespread, strictly marine species
meets many of the requirements to be considered as a candidate for
industrial culture: easy adaptation to captivity conditions, high growth
rate, acceptance of low-value natural foods, high reproductive rate and high
market price. The life cycle from eclosion of eggs to settlement or
beginning of the benthonic adult phase is not commercially viable, but the
published results from laboratory and pilot scales are promising. Comments
are also made on general research lines needed to improve the use of octopus
as farmed species in the future.