Current status and future challenges in cephalopod culture

Abstract

This chapter presents an overall perspective on the current status of cephalopod culture, its bottlenecks and future challenges. It focuses on the species that have received more research effort and consequently accumulated more scientific literature during the present century, namely Sepia officinalis, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Octopus maya and Octopus vulgaris. Knowledge regarding physiology, metabolism and nutrition of different species is still lacking. Two main challenges are identified: the development of a sustainable artificial diet and the control of reproduction. Understanding cephalopod physiology and nutrition will probably be the biggest challenge in developing the large-scale culture of this group of molluscs on a medium to long term. In addition, zootechnical parameters need future research and improvement. The performance of an ethical experimentation with cephalopods is strongly encouraged and any zootechnical development should be performed and adapted accordingly. The potential of cephalopod culture extends far beyond its use for research and human consumption and probably it will be translated in a remarkable production in the coming years.