It is with both considerable concern and surprise (to say it mildly) that I write this article. Considerable concern, that the killing of a 9 kilo fully grown male octopus, more than likely with an illegal octopus hook, can be expressed as a, “Delight of Andalucia”. Do we really want to bring up our children to kill everything they find?

But surprise, that a so called informed, local magazine, like Market Place, can condone such a mindless, barbaric and wasteful act. The chance that this very old and tough octopus will finish up in anyone’s cooking pot is very slim. It will be as tough and as inedible as old boots, unless of course they are prepared to palm anything off on the unsuspecting tourists.

The octopus is a friendly, inquisitive and tactile creature; the female will live for about two years and will die after guarding her eggs to the point at which they begin to hatch. We have much to learn, and much to teach our young.

ScubaDoo is involved in a number of local projects to enhance our local environment and will welcome anyone who would like to help. Perhaps the new editor of Market Place will endeavour to encourage our youngsters to learn and preserve our fragile marine ecology, rather than destroy it?