Fish seller buys 70-pound octopus just to release it back into the sea

Giovanni DeGarimore, owner of a fish market in Morro Bay, California, got a call from a local fisherman. A 70-pound octopus had been caught in a crab trap and he thought DeGarimore would be interested in buying it. He was indeed interested, and paid the fisherman a couple hundred dollars for it.

Truth is, DeGarimore does not sell octopus at his market. A few years ago, he met an octopus face-to-face while scuba diving in Fiji and was impressed with its playfulness. That led him to read more about the creatures, including research findings which point to their intelligence. They can navigate mazes and solve problems, and are well-known for their skill as escape artists. 

So DeGarimore bought the octopus, named it Fred, and kept it safe at his shop for a day or two. Then he transported Fred to an undisclosed location far from possible predators and released it into the sea. 

“I can’t be a savior to everything, so I had to pick one thing and do what I can," he told local news. And to his followers on Facebook, he said, "It'll hit me in the pocket, but I'd rather stand for something." No doubt Fred appreciates DeGarimore's conscience.

If you're as fascinated with these creatures as I am, you'll enjoy the amazing National Geographic video below.