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Octopus

(Philippines, Wild-caught)

Rating:
Due to a lack of fishery management, octopus from the Philippines is ranked "Avoid."

Market Names:
Octopus, Tako

Consumer Notes:
It's important to ask where your octopus comes from. The Philippines is the single most important source of imported octopus in the U.S., but it still accounts for just 28 percent of all U.S. octopus imports. Most octopus from the Philippines is sold frozen.

Summary:
Like other cephalopods, octopus grows fast and produces many young - traits that help it withstand fishing pressure. In the Philippines, octopus is found in coral reefs and caught using a variety of gear, including jigs, hook/gaff, spears and baited traps. While some gear, such as divers using jigs, are fairly benign, there are concerns about overall fishery management and monitoring. These include uncertainty about the size and status of the population, potential habitat damage caused by the fishery and whether octopus harvesters may be catching other species.

Lack of monitoring and management in the Philippines is a critical conservation concern and leads to an "Avoid" ranking for this species.

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