News
California state bans octopus farming with OCTO Act
October 8, 2024 By Aquaculture North America staff
The State of California has signed into law the California Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act (A.B. 3162) the prohibition of octopus farming on land and water and the sale of farmed octopuses in the state.
Research has shown that octopuses have significant cognitive abilities and can learn new skills, navigate complex mazes, are known escape artists, and even use tools. Due to the animal’s complex mental ability, octopuses have high enrichment needs that cannot be met in farming environments.
And so, confining these highly intelligent, solitary animals in farming conditions is inhumane, as there is a high likelihood of stress, aggressive activity, and high mortality among octopuses in these settings, a press release from Animal Legal Defense Fund reads.
“Bipartisan support to ban commercial octopus farming in California underlines the state’s unified opposition to allowing the exploitive practice of factory farming to expand to another population of vulnerable animals,” said Jennifer Hauge, senior legislative affairs manager, Animal Legal Defense Fund. “We are pleased to see the bill signed into law and will continue to advocate for similar statewide and federal legislation to protect these targeted animals.”
Although Washington State first enacted the bill banning octopus farming, similar legislation has been introduced both in Hawaii and in the U.S. Senate, with other coastal states considering following suit.
The California State bill was co-sponsored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Social Compassion in Legislation and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 27.
“We are so grateful to Governor Newsom for recognizing the need to preemptively stop octopus farming in this state,” said Judie Mancuso, Social Compassion in Legislation founder and president. “By signing this bill, California is taking a stand that will prevent an immeasurable amount of suffering to these magnificent animals and the environmental damage that this industry would create. We hope the rest of the country and the world will follow suit.”
