The common octopus is a popular sushi item where it is sold
under the Japanese name tako. Due to heavy fishing pressure
(current and past), habitat damage caused by the fishing gear,
and a lack of fishery management, we recommend consumers "Avoid"
octopus from Mauritania, Morocco and Vietnam. Common octopus
from Spain is a "Good Alternative." Common Octopus, Tako The
octopus found in American sushi restaurants is generally the
common octopus, Octopus vulgaris . However, it is rare for
octopus to be listed by species on menus and, at times, other
species are also marketed as common octopus. Another menu
offering might be "baby octopus" which could either be a
juvenile common octopus or an adult octopus of a smaller
species. What is clear is that it can be very difficult to
determine what octopus one is eating. Tako is available year-
round and served in a variety of forms including: live, fresh,
dried, frozen, cured, salted, and brined. As its name implies,
common octopus is found in numerous oceans. Worldwide,