Nueva Pescanova reaches a turning point with octopus cultivation

Nueva Pescanova reaches a turning point with octopus cultivation Commercially farmed octopuses closer to becoming reality

Nueva Pescanova, a Spain-based multinational in the seafood business, is involved in every link in the value chain—fi shing, farming, processing, sales and distribution. It markets more than 70 species of fi sh and seafood in 80 countries around the world. It recently opened the Pescanova Biomarine Centre, where scientists have closed the life cycle of the common octopus. The company expects to start commercial production of the species in summer 2022.

The inauguration ceremony for the Pescanova Biomarine Centre in November 2021 was attended by members of the Nueva Pescanova board and political dignitaries from he regional and central governments. Together with other research institutes, the centre has pioneered Spanish efforts to commercially cultivate the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris).

Pulpo gallega, a simple yet sublime dish that stands out even among the array of superb tasting preparations that characterise Spanish or more specifi cally Galician cuisine. However, the chances that the Pulpo gallega is prepared from an octopus freshly caught off the Galician coast are slim. In Spain, 80 of the octopus consumed comes from imports and only 20 is native. Nonetheless, sliced boiled potatoes, diced octopus, salt and pepper, olive oil, paprika, and lemon combine into an amazing blend of fl avours and textures that make this one of the most popular items on any menu in coastal Galicia. Th e data bears this out; In 2020 consumption of octopus in Galicia accounted for a quarter of all the octopus consumed in Spain in terms of both volume and value.

New centre for fi sh and seafood research prioritises octopus health and welfare

It is therefore not surprising that a company based in Galicia, Nueva Pescanova, has been

Researchers at the Pescanova Biomarine Centre have produced fi ve generations from octopus broodstock, a feat that is unique to Spain.

at the forefront of eff orts to cultivate octopus. Th e company’s 4,000 sq. m research centre in Pontevedra, the Pescanova Biomarine Centre, was inaugurated in November 2021. Established with an investment of EUR7.5m, the centre hosts 40 researchers dedicated to research, development, and innovation in aquaculture with a focus on sustainability, animal welfare, health, nutrition and on the cultivation of new species. As the company pointed out in a press release late last year, of the 250,000 marine species that exist, less than 600 are currently being farmed. Among the new species being studied at the centre is the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris.

After a decade of investigations, the researchers have managed to close the life cycle of this species, one that has long frustrated scientists interested in breeding it in captivity because of the high mortality rates of the paralarvae. Th is challenge has now been solved and the company announced that it had successfully bred fi ve generations from an octopus that itself was bred in captivity, the fi rst time this has ever been done anywhere in the world. At the Pescanova Biomarine Centre researchers are working to optimise octopus production based on nutrition, genetics, animal health and welfare, says Ricardo Tur, technical director of the centre, in the centre’s newsletter. Th e idea is to reproduce as closely as possible the conditions the animal experiences in the wild including the parameters of the water and light levels, a concept the company terms, EcoBiological Production System. Th e animal responds by reducing its movement by propulsion which is associated with fi ght or fl ee instincts and correspondingly high stress levels as well as an increased risk of collision damage in a confi ned space. Instead, it moves with the help of its arms, a more natural way of conveying itself from one place to another. Scientists from the centre are collaborating with colleagues in eight institutes in three countries (Spain, Mexico, and Portugal) on a project to optimise the welfare of the common octopus under culture conditions. At the Spanish Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC), one of the partners in the project, scientists are working to identify biochemical markers such as corticosteroids and amines that could indicate a stress response. Monitoring such indicators would show the stress level of the animal and allow the implementation of measures to reduce it.

Identifying nutritional requirements at each growth stage

Genetic mapping is also being undertaken to reveal which genes are being continuously expressed and researchers are trying to understand what this can say about the welfare of the animal and to find how this challenge can be addressed. Tests are also being carried out to determine the nutritional requirements of the octopus at different stages of development and to adapt its diet to its needs, says Pablo Garcia, a researcher at the centre. At the same time work is progressing on a feed that is based on fish waste materials for a more sustainable solution. This line of research is based on a diet developed by another partner, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, for the Yucatan red octopus (Octopus maya). Another promising area is the substitution of animal ingredients in the feed with those of plant origin. At the Pescanova Biomarine Centre experiments are being conducted that replace the animal content with spirulina, a microalga that has a protein content of 70.

In the right conditions, the animal grows rapidly converting 30-60 of their intake into biomass and gaining up to 5 of its body weight a day. But for these growth rates the quality of the food is as important as the way it is absorbed. However, scaling the production from laboratory conditions to industrial levels without any detrimental eff ect on the welfare of the animal is critical for a successful commercial operation. Th e facilities at the Pescanova Biomarine Centre enable the study of diff erent production systems and breeding stages (larval, pre-grow out, and grow out) and this knowledge will be translated into the commercial production of the octopus. Th e next phase, after farming protocols have been developed and standardised, will be to start genetic selection programmes to identify the best broodstock for traits such as high growth rates and resistance to

Demand for octopus in Spain grew by 20% in 2021 in the hotel and catering sector alone. Imports, mainly from Morocco and Mauritania, meet 80% of the Spanish requirement for this cephalopod.

disease, says David Chavarrías, the chief offi cer of the centre.

Octopus farm will mean the technological development of the Canary Islands

Octopus makes good eating if prepared properly. Not only is the meat tasty with a pleasant texture but from a nutritional point of view it is healthful containing high levels of protein, some omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. In Europe the main markets for octopus are in the southern part of the continent—Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy and France are both the main producers and the main consumers. Nueva Pescanova plans to enter the market in summer 2022 with octopus produced at the Biomarine Centre. But the company also plans an octopus farm in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, the biggest of the Canary Islands. The building will be equipped with advanced technologies for air conditioning, and to reduce energy and water consumption. Sea water recirculation systems will be installed and different types of pools will offer the conditions the octopuses need at each stage of their life cycle. The facility will incorporate the knowledge accrued at the Biomarine Centre and its construction is expected to create 150 direct jobs and the same number of indirect jobs. It will act as a magnet for research talent and contribute to the technological development of the islands, according to the company.

Javier Aguilera, global VP of aquaculture at the Nueva Pescanova Group, does not expect the farmed product to be any different from the wild one in terms of taste or texture. As far as possible we intend to reproduce the octopus’ natural marine environment on the farms, including the living conditions (minus the predators) and the feed, he says. The final product, its weight, preparation, presentation etc. will depend on what the consumer demands. In terms of the market, the farmed product is anticipated to be a small niche that complements the wild catch rather than changes market share. For Mr Aguilera, the important thing is that every step along the production and value chain is controlled so that the entire history of each product including the feed it has been given and the broodstock it has been raised from can be traced. At the same time the advantage of farming is that it makes planning much easier as the process is far more predictable than wild catches. Knowing that they can expect regular consignments of a certain volume of a certain sized product is a major advantage for a retail chain. And this is what aquaculture offers.

Nueva Pescanova

Rúa José Fernández López, s/n 36320 Chapela, Redondela (Pontevedra) Spain

Tel.: +34 986 818 100 nuevapescanova.com

Communications director: Tesa

Diaz Faes comunicacion@nuevapescanova. com

Activities: Fishing, farming, processing, marketing Products: Fish and seafood Markets: 80 countries around the world Vessels: 60 (Africa and South

America)

Aquaculture water surface:

7,000 ha (Spain, Central and

South America) Processing plants: 17 (10 countries in Europe, Africa, Central and South America, Asia) Turnover: EUR905m (2020)