Aquaculture potential of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797):: a review

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. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.