DEEP DIVE: Britain’s exit from the European Union presented both threats and promises to animal justice in the UK. But since coming into effect in 2020, what - if anything - has actually changed? Devon Docherty writes.

Did you know that octopuses build cities and form cultures? Following on with our coverage of World Aquatic Animal Day, we’re drawing attention to a fascinating article by Kristin Andrews, a professor of Philosophy at York University, Canada, whose research into subaquatic suburbias demonstrates the hidden sentience of octopuses.

THE STORY IN PICTURES: The world’s second-biggest fishing vessel, Dutch-owned trawler FV Margiris, dumped more than 100,000 dead fish into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of France on Thursday. Yet it is quite literally a drop in the ocean when compared to the scale of death, suffering and devastation inflicted by the world’s fishing industries. Marine conservation activists from Sea Shepherd were there to capture the shocking images.

GUEST ARTICLE: With millions of salmon and other marine species farmed and slaughtered every year in the UK and with relatively few protections as revealed by recent ground-breaking investigations, Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, talks us through their latest campaign to keep a closer eye on the industry.

The UK government and authorities responsible for monitoring animal welfare are allowing fish slaughter cruelty to go unnoticed and “without proper oversight”, according to The Humane League UK.

The UK’s new Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill formally recognises marine invertebrates, including crabs and lobsters, as sentient and with the capacity to feel pain, joy and comfort. While that is excellent news, sadly ministers predict it will have no bearing on the fishing industry as it is now.

Online travel company Expedia has stopped selling holidays that include performances from captive whales or dolphins. Campaign groups such as World Animal Protection have been calling for travel firms to stop selling captive marine mammal experiences as part of holiday packages for years and hope that other travel firms including TUI, Jet2holidays and Travel Republic will now follow suit.

A Guardian article out this week has highlighted the sad story of two right whales in the Gulf of St Lawrence seen entangled in fishing gear, bringing to light the controversy at the heart of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and its so-called ‘blue tick ecolabel’ that certifies fisheries responsible for killing endangered species.

A recent BBC story describes how grazing cattle are helping the rare pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly to thrive in a Scottish forest. While large grazing herbivores do play a role in keeping some ecosystems healthy and supporting other species, do they need to be ones that will end up on someone’s plate?

In response to the recent revelation that some Subway tuna sandwiches contained no trace of tuna DNA, plant-based ‘seafood’ brand Good Catch has taken to the streets of London in its OurWay food to hand out free fish-free subs in a direct challenge to the sandwich chain.

More than a billion marine animals have cooked to death due to the intense heatwave that battered western Canada at the end of June. Here are the links between commercial fishing and the climate crisis.

As lobsters look set to be recognised under the Animal Sentience Bill, we look at the scientific evidence that they can feel pain when being boiled alive.