The looming possibility of farming octopuses—one of the most supremely intelligent and complex beings on Earth—is such a horrifying idea that a global movement, of which we are a part, has risen throughout the world. It was inspired by Sy Montgomery, icon, preeminent naturalist, “octopus whisperer,” and author of more than 21 books, including National Book Award finalist, “The Soul of an Octopus.”

The predatory multinational seafood company, Nueva Pescanova, has been planning the construction of the first industrial commercial octopus farming of octopuses, gulags of up to one million sentient beings a year, imprisoned en mass in tanks at the port of Gran Canaria. This raises the frightening prospect of far-reaching calamitous ethical, environmental, and ecological catastrophes such as:

- The grave risk to wildlife

- Using contaminated seawater

- Exacerbating an already vulnerable marine environment

- And setting a precedent for other countries to follow suit, among a litany of other violations.

It is simply another egregious example of the large-scale exploitation associated with concentrated aquaculture. Octopuses are carnivores who consume four times their body weight, requiring constantly feeding them other animals, which can lead to the destruction of related wild species and the decimation of ecosystems.

How Do We Stop it? 

Arukah Animal International is collaborating on a powerful seven-minute film with an award-winning filmmaker from the social change filmmaking world. This multilayered animation documentary short will vividly portray the daring and exhilarating spirit of octopus freedom, a singular being of profound attentiveness and mesmerizing fascination, as well as lay bare the terrifyingly unnatural horrors and anguish of captivity, a dark and deadly and isolating place, a purgatory—all through octopus eyes, revealing a glimpse and an urgency beyond the floating arms of extraordinary brain waves, giving shape and expression to fleeting sensations and emotions of these soulful, cephalopods.

Art by Tommy Kane

Our first professionally produced studio-quality cinematic short has a target budget of $195,000 to come to life. We have before us a breathtakingly rare opportunity for a work of art, and a deeply personal one, to end the tyranny of industrial octopus farming before it becomes an entrenched system that is nearly impossible to dismantle.

Act now to save millions of sentient octopus lives. Your investment in this film is crucial to ending the global devastation that will become the norm if we allow octopus farming to develop unchecked.

With your support, the film can reach the broadest of audiences and have a momentous impact. There are unlimited possibilities for the film about these wondrous cephalopods to be featured in schools and universities, theaters, online events, and film festivals around the world. 

Be Part of the Story 

By contributing to our upcoming animated short film, you'll play an essential role in preventing the bleak realities of octopus farming from ever being realized. Your generosity, no matter the amount, is instrumental to creating this film.

We are so delighted to partner with you that we developed special gifts to acknowledge your participation in the Stop Octopus Farming movement:

- Your name in the credits: $1,000

- A painting related to the topic of the film, signed by the artist: $10,000

- Your name as an executive producer, and a private online screening of the film: $40,000

- Your name in the opening credits, a private screening and dinner, and a poster of the film

signed by the creative team: $80,000

We are confident the film will make waves in the fight against the catastrophic prospect of industrial octopus farming practices and are thrilled you have chosen to join us. We can’t wait to bring this stirring film to life and continue to share its odyssey with you.

Arukah means Healing, Restoring, and Repairing