Should we farm octopus?

6 Minute English

语言学习

2023-11-02

6 分钟

单集文稿 ...

  • Neil: I'm Neil.

  • Beth: And I'm Beth.

  • Neil: Beth, what do you think about when I say the word octopus?

  • Beth: Well, I know they're intelligent,

  • they can change colour to hide in their surroundings,

  • and of course, they have 8 arms.

  • But, I have to admit, I also think they about how they taste – delicious.

  • Neil: I think so too, as do plenty of other people.

  • Octopus is most commonly eaten in South Korea, Spain, Portugal and Japan

  • where they can't get enough of that umami flavour.

  • Umami is one of the 5 basic tastes and is a savoury flavour.

  • Until recently, octopus has only been caught in the wild.

  • But now, a Spanish multinational company has announced

  • it will be ready to sell farmed octopus soon,

  • which campaigners have described as 'ethically and ecologically unjustified'.

  • Beth: This is because octopuses are sentient,

  • an adjective describing a thing that experiences feelings,

  • like pleasure and pain.

  • Humans and many other animals, like pigs, monkeys and birds, are also sentient.

  • So, is it OK to farm octopus