Animal advocates in New Zealand urge government to halt octopus farming over welfare and health concerns.

Animal advocates in New Zealand, backed by 168 organizations, have called on the government to stop funding research into octopus farming, citing concerns over animal welfare, environmental impact, and public health risks. The groups argue that farming octopuses could lead to stress, aggression, and the overuse of antibiotics, contributing to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Octopus farming is already banned in some U.S. states due to similar concerns.