159
9 Farming Costs and Benefits, Marketing Details, Investment Risks
process. Tuna-fattening operations generally halt the activity precisely during the
months when octopus ongrowing could be performed with best results. Thus, establishing integrated octopus- and fish-ongrowing operations in the Mediterranean
could contribute to the overall decrease of the production costs, improving the profitability of both types of exploitations.
9.4 Conclusions
Good prospects presented by the octopus O� vulgaris have turned it into a target
species to develop its cultivation in Spain; diverse business experiences were devoted to ongrowing wild subadults while the complete species cycle was achieved.
Cost analysis of this activity in different experiences, locations and systems has
permitted to evaluate the importance of the diverse aspects involved in specific real
experiences, in order to determine its economic feasibility. Results indicate that
production costs in land (8.97 € kg
−1
) are superior to that of sea cages (6.61 € kg
−1
);
feeding, fixed assets, subadults purchasing and wages are reported as higher costs
in descending order. Technological progress related to the confinement systems and
the production capacity increase can significantly reduce major costs. The surveyed
companies point out that the development of the fattening activity is slowed down
by the current dependency on the natural environment (extraction of subadults and
food). This dependency is the cause behind the non-full capacity exploitation of
some facilities and the activities withdrawal of others. It is thus necessary to solve
two crucial limiting factors in order to have a viable development of octopus culture, i.e. securing massive production of subadults in hatchery and provision of a
commercial feed rendering high performances in terms of growth, CI and survival.
References
Aguado Giménez F, García García B (2002) Growth and food intake models in Octopus vulgaris
Cuvier 1797: influence of body weight, temperature, sex and diet. Aquac Int 10:361–377
Alemany Sena F (2011) Aproximación al engorde industrial del pulpo Octopus vulgaris. Primeros
resultados en una instalación de tanques con circuito abierto en el Delta del Ebro. In: Actas del
XIII Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura. Castelldefels, Barcelona, Noviembre de 2011
Cerezo Valverde J, Hernández MD, Aguado-Giménez F, García García B (2008) Growth, feed
efficiency and conditions of common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris) fed on two formulated moist
diets. Aquaculture 275:266–273
Chapela A, González AF, Dawe EG, Rocha F, Guerra A (2006) Growth of common octopus
( Octopus vulgaris) in cages suspended from rafts. Sci Mar 70:121–129
Estefanell J, Roo J, Guirao R, Izquierdo M, Socorro J (2012) Benthic cages versus floating cages
in Octopus vulgaris: biological performance and biochemical composition feeding on Boops
boops discarded from fish farms. Aquac Eng 49:46–52
García García B, Cerezo Valverde J (2006) Optimal proportions of crabs and fish in diet for common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris) ongrowing. Aquaculture 253:502–511
9 Farming Costs and Benefits, Marketing Details, Investment Risks
process. Tuna-fattening operations generally halt the activity precisely during the
months when octopus ongrowing could be performed with best results. Thus, establishing integrated octopus- and fish-ongrowing operations in the Mediterranean
could contribute to the overall decrease of the production costs, improving the profitability of both types of exploitations.
9.4 Conclusions
Good prospects presented by the octopus O� vulgaris have turned it into a target
species to develop its cultivation in Spain; diverse business experiences were devoted to ongrowing wild subadults while the complete species cycle was achieved.
Cost analysis of this activity in different experiences, locations and systems has
permitted to evaluate the importance of the diverse aspects involved in specific real
experiences, in order to determine its economic feasibility. Results indicate that
production costs in land (8.97 € kg
−1
) are superior to that of sea cages (6.61 € kg
−1
);
feeding, fixed assets, subadults purchasing and wages are reported as higher costs
in descending order. Technological progress related to the confinement systems and
the production capacity increase can significantly reduce major costs. The surveyed
companies point out that the development of the fattening activity is slowed down
by the current dependency on the natural environment (extraction of subadults and
food). This dependency is the cause behind the non-full capacity exploitation of
some facilities and the activities withdrawal of others. It is thus necessary to solve
two crucial limiting factors in order to have a viable development of octopus culture, i.e. securing massive production of subadults in hatchery and provision of a
commercial feed rendering high performances in terms of growth, CI and survival.
References
Aguado Giménez F, García García B (2002) Growth and food intake models in Octopus vulgaris
Cuvier 1797: influence of body weight, temperature, sex and diet. Aquac Int 10:361–377
Alemany Sena F (2011) Aproximación al engorde industrial del pulpo Octopus vulgaris. Primeros
resultados en una instalación de tanques con circuito abierto en el Delta del Ebro. In: Actas del
XIII Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura. Castelldefels, Barcelona, Noviembre de 2011
Cerezo Valverde J, Hernández MD, Aguado-Giménez F, García García B (2008) Growth, feed
efficiency and conditions of common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris) fed on two formulated moist
diets. Aquaculture 275:266–273
Chapela A, González AF, Dawe EG, Rocha F, Guerra A (2006) Growth of common octopus
( Octopus vulgaris) in cages suspended from rafts. Sci Mar 70:121–129
Estefanell J, Roo J, Guirao R, Izquierdo M, Socorro J (2012) Benthic cages versus floating cages
in Octopus vulgaris: biological performance and biochemical composition feeding on Boops
boops discarded from fish farms. Aquac Eng 49:46–52
García García B, Cerezo Valverde J (2006) Optimal proportions of crabs and fish in diet for common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris) ongrowing. Aquaculture 253:502–511