US Congress bill could ban octopus farming

A bill has been introduced to the US Congress which could ban commercial octopus farming throughout the USA and become the world’s first national legislation of its kind.

If successful, the OCTOPUS Act (short for Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies) would ban intensive octopus farming and ban the import of farmed products from these highly intelligent and sentient wild creatures across the USA.

This bipartisan bill has been introduced by US Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), founders and co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, and spearheaded by Animal Legal Defense Fund.

It follows the passing of historic legislation in Washington earlier this year, banning the practice across the State.

International calls for legislation

It follows our calls, alongside other NGOs, scientists, and millions of citizens across the world, for lawmakers to recognise the cruelty and environmental damage which would result from farming octopuses.

Octopuses are naturally solitary wild animals who would not adapt to farming conditions where many animals would be confined together in underwater tanks. There are concerns that the distress caused by these conditions could lead to aggression, and even cannibalism.

Just like other animals, they feel pain, pleasure, distress and excitement. They can also learn to solve puzzles and use tools.

Spanish seafood company, Nueva Pescanova (NP), is planning to build the world's first octopus farm on Gran Canaria. We are urging them to abandon the project immediately on both cruelty and environmental grounds.

Our recent report with Eurogroup for Animals, Exposing the Environmental Risks of Octopus Farming, highlighted the key environmental risks of NP’s plans with concerns including pollution, use of natural resources, threats to biodiversity and to public health.

Welcoming the US Congress bill, Dr Elena Lara, our Senior Research and Public Affairs Advisor, said:

“It’s hugely encouraging to see this landmark action taken by Senate Ocean Caucus in the US towards banning intensive octopus farming. If successful, it will become the world’s first national legislation to ban this cruel and environmentally damaging practice.

“The evidence is clear: octopuses are naturally solitary, sentient creatures and would suffer immensely in the confines of an intensive farm. With the significant environmental toll these farms would also take it’s essential that we stop this industry before it has a chance to get established. We should be ending factory farming, not finding new species to confine,” she concluded.

Sign our END.IT petition to call for global leaders to transform our food system and end factory farming, including for octopuses.